The Plant City Veterans’ Memorial Monument Park was beaming with radiance as folks came out for the 35th Annual Veterans Appreciation Event on Saturday.
Hosted by Hopewell Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, the ceremony had both retired servicemen and citizens come together to celebrate veterans alive and fallen.
Edwena Haney, co-owner and community relations coordinator of Hopewell, offered a special welcome and thanks to those in attendance.
Before the audience was the American flag waving high. At their feet were the names of veterans engraved in the bricks paving the ground.
After the Durant High School ROTC did the presentation of colors and the national anthem was sung, Plant City Vice-Mayor Michael Sparkman offered some remarks.
He recalled having to register for the draft for the Vietnam War. He ended up spending nine years in the Florida National Guard and in the Army Reserve.
He also spoke on the legacy of his wife’s uncle who served in the Korean War and was killed just days before it ended.
In showing gratitude for those sacrifices, several youth shared their own written thoughts about veterans, at the service.
“When we started this program 35 years ago, it was to educate the children,” explained Haney.
School students were encouraged to enter an essay contest, writing about what veterans mean to them.
The seven winners who read their work were: Aiden Jones, Maddison Rodgers, Anne Marie Cabrales, Logan Hyatt, Eli Webb, Kendal Andress, and Makyla Brown – who was chosen as the essay overall contest winner.
All winners received a certificate, IPad, and had their picture taken with country music artist Kenzie Wheeler, Chaplain Dan Middlebrooks and the vice-mayor.
When Brown took to the stage, she reminded the audience why we have freedom.
“Do you love being able to hang with your friends everyday – thank a veteran. Do you love not living in fear of a war – thank a veteran. Do you love living in a free country – thank a veteran.”
Jones spoke about having veterans in his family when reading his poem. He also offered the audience some advice saying, “If you see a veteran, shake his hand. Ask him if you can do anything for him. Everything I own is from the hard work of veterans. A good way of honoring veterans is to show more gratitude towards them.”
Rodgers said that veterans should be recognized daily not yearly, and Andress understood that the holiday is more than just getting time off from school.
“Veterans have firsthand experience when it comes to sacrifice,” said Cabrales. “Sacrifice means to give up one thing for another thing that is considered to be of greater value.”
Her father had served in the Marine Corps and had done tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. She said that while it kept him busy, she was grateful for all he has done.
Hyatt took the time to offer thanks to his grandfather and godmother by saying, “They are two of the bravest people I know, and I am honored to call them my family.”
Webb too expressed his pride in having veterans in his family.
Mitchell Kerwin had served in the navy and performed the famous “Taps” instrumental, which is commonly played during a funeral service of a fallen soldier.
He said that he was impressed with the large crowd turnout, especially hearing from the essay writers.
“It’s an unbelievable experience,” said Kerwin. “Now kids are beginning to see again Veterans Day and what it really means, instead of a day off from school.”
Dann Druen, co-owner and general manager of Hopewell, came forward to acknowledge the veterans in attendance. He asked those from each branch of the U.S. military to stand – and all were met with applause.
Throughout the event, Kenzie Wheeler and the Springhead Elementary School Chorus performed patriotic songs.
“We are all Americans, all Americans, all Americans, me and you,” sang the Chorus. “We have our freedom, we have our choices, we have our right to raise our all-American voices.”
At the end of the service, Wheeler joined the students as they sang “God Bless the U.S.A.”
Plant City native Frank Ray was sitting among the crowd, enjoying the service. He retired as a chief petty officer in the Navy after serving 22 years.
His wife Debbie purchased a brick for his name to be engraved on the monument premises and is waiting to see it placed among others who had served.
Although he had to retire due to injuries he suffered as an officer, the 73-year-old said he has no regrets.
“I enjoyed my tours. I’d do it again to save this country, I sure would. That flag means a lot to me.”