Even more to do for veterans and families for Memorial Day weekend
From Cathy Haynes
May #3, Memorial Day/weekend “Us too!” second list and updated events in Central Florida thru mid-June.
Please share with others. Post where appropriate. Attend when able.
These are additional Memorial Day/weekend events that were shared after the May 19 was sent, and after the general event list that was sent out on May 1. If you need the lists resent to you, just let me know.
If you receive this list at work – after the fact – please consider providing me your ‘home’ email address.
Sunday, May 24
Remembering and Honoring Our Heroes Day – 10:30 am. Military and First Responders honored. First Baptist Sweetwater, 3800 Wekiva Spgs Road, Longwood. (Notice courtesy of Bob Jordan, USMC (ret.)
Tribute to Local Fallen Soldier – 2pm - Unveiling of a memorial to Oviedo fallen warrior Army Spc. Brenden N. Salazar, KIA 2012 Afgh., age 20. Rock and Brews Restaurant, 7131 Red Bug Lake Rd. Oviedo, 32765. 407-956-4124. Sponsored by NeverForgottenMemorials.org and Rock & Brews, Oviedo Salute Veterans. Info: Dave Matthews 407-535-1728 Never Forgotten Memorials.org NeverForgottenMemorials.org@ gmail.com
Memorial Day – Monday, May 25
9am – Ormond Beach - Memorial Remembrance Service – Music will be provided by Daytona Beach Concert Band. Parking at the Casements, Fortunato Park and the Ormond Memorial Art Museum. Rockefeller Gardens, 25 Riverside Drive, Ormond Beach. Free. 386-676-3241. (Notice courtesy of Joe Rassel, Orlando Sentinel.)
9:30am – Brevard County Veterans Memorial Center – Traditional and touching ceremony. Keynote speaker is Army MG John Cleland (ret.) Viera High School Band and Rockledge JROTC will perform. Veterans Memorial Center, 400 S. Sykes Creek Pkwy, Merritt Island, 32952. Free picnic afterwards courtesy of Chic-fil-a of Merritt Square Mall.
10am - Zellwood ceremony at Conquest Cemetery near the intersection of Yothers Road and U.S. Highway 441 near the entrance to Zellwood Station. The theme this year will be "Remember the Maine.” This was the battle cry during the Spanish-American war. As is traditional, the grave of each veteran buried at Conquest Cemetery will receive a flag and flowers. The Rev. Edwin Rose will deliver the message and music will be by the Rev. Darrell Reid. (Courtesy of John Peery, Apopka Chief newspaper.)
10am – Deltona – Memorial Day service sponsored by Veterans Community Education Partnership and Deltona Memorial Funeral Home and Cemetery. Memorial wreaths at the Memorial, presentation of colors by area veterans and affiliated community organizations. Deltona Mem. Funeral Home, 1295 Saxon Blvd., Orange City. Free. 386-775-4260. (Notice courtesy of Joe Rassel, Orlando Sentinel.)
10am – Port Orange – VFW Post 3282 host the ceremony. Veterans Park across the lake from Port Orange City Hall, 1000 City Center Circle. Free. 386-506-5936. (Notice courtesy of Joe Rassel, Orlando Sentinel.)
11am - The city of Apopka and VFW Post 10147 will host a ceremony at Edgewood-Greenwood Cemetery off Highland Avenue and Monroe Avenue. Food and refreshments will follow at the Apopka Community Center/VFW, 519 S Central Avenue. Speakers will be Steven R. Deviese, Mayor Joe Kilsheimer. Special music provided by Pastors Doug and Roger Bankson. Traditional cerelony with wreath, patriotic songs, color guard, release of doves, and Boy Scout Troop 211 will present the flags.
(Courtesy of John Peery, Apopka Chief newspaper.)
11am – Melbourne – Ceremony with the Massing of the Colors, music provided by the Melbourne Municipal Band and others. Liberty Bell Memorial Museum, 1601 Oak St., Melbourne. Free. 321-727-1776. (Notice courtesy of Joe Rassel, Orlando Sentinel.)
6:30pm – “One Nation Under God” Christian patriotic program with live music, video presentation, and meal. Free but donations gratefully accepted. Presented by “By your Side Ministries” in Winter Garden. Tickets at www .byyoursideministries.com
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Television - Highlighted patriotic programs
· PBS - 5 pm - Sunday, May 24 - Silver Wings, Flying Dreams: The Complete Story of the Women Airforce Service Pilots of WWII. The documentary tells the story of the first women to pilot American military aircraft and their 66 year struggle to receive recognition for their service. They finally received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2010. (Thank you, Bill Suchy, for bringing attention to this!)
· PBS – 8pm – Sunday, May 24 - National Memorial Day Concert - On our local PBS TV station – WUCF This concert is from Washington DC and is hosted by Gary Sinise and Joe Mantegna. One of the most watched programs, and repeated at 9pm.
· HBO-E – 6:30pm – Monday May 25 - “ Taking Chance” – True story, award winning movie of a Lt. Col. who escorts the body of Marine P1C Chance Phelps, killed in 2004 Iraq, to his family.
Support Blue Star Families by shopping – NOW EXTENDED TO SUNDAY, MAY 31. Macy’s offers 15%-20% discount in return for a $3 donation made at the register. Proceeds benefit “Got Your Six” and “Blue Star Families” programs and events for military families. Your donation will support the work of “Got Your 6” and empower our country’s military veterans and families.
Lake Nona VA Hospital dedication – Tues May 26 – HURRAY! This long awaited Ceremony starts at 10am and VA Secretary Bob McDonald will be attending to provide the keynote address. Ceremony includes music from the local VFW band. Plan on arriving early to allow for time. The dedication will culminate a week of special events, including a day for Veterans, the media, and our stakeholders as well. Lake Nona Campus of Orlando VA Medical Center – 13800 Veterans Way, Orlando, 32827. Public Affairs office – 407-599-1301.
Florida Governor’s Veterans Service Award Presentation – Wed May 27 - Florida National Guard Armory, 2809 South Ferncreek Avenue, Orlando, 32806. 9:30am ceremony. Monthly medal ceremonies in other Florida cities are planned, but the schedule for the remainder of the year has not been released. ARRIVE EARLY and REGISTER TO RECEIVE A MEDAL ON SITE - BRING PROOF OF YOUR MILITARY SERVICE (ie: DD214). For more information, visit the FDVA website at floridavets.org/gvsa/ Info: Steve Murray at murrayr@fdva.state.fl.us (Thank you Charley Price!)
Greeters needed! Honor Flight Welcome Home –Wed. May 27 – Orlando Int’l Airport –After a day spent in Washington DC, 35 veterans of WWII and Korean War veterans – including 1 Tuskegee airman and one petite woman who is a WWII Marine Sgt - return home thru Orlando Int’l Airport. The hub of the nation-wide organization will take veterans on a single day trip to our nation’s capital where they visit the WWII, Korea, and Vietnam War Memorials, Marine Corps Iwo Jima and the Air Force Monuments, and witness the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery. This group will return at about 9:45pm and enter the terminal area at about 10:15 – 10:30pm. Come welcome these former warriors home! “Welcome Home” receptions at the airports makes a difference! Bring your flags, banners and signs! – Southwest Airlines # 2950 from Baltimore-Washington (BWI), Terminal A, Airside 2 (hotel area in front of Starbucks.) Before leaving home, check online to see if the flight is on time because there may be delays due to weather, mechanical or medical issues.
Free parking has been arranged at an off airport property – FastPark and Relax – who has been very generous to Honor Flights with free parking and shuttles to the airport (tips welcomed by drivers!) - Contact Cathy Haynes for those details NLT 7pm - chaynes11629@yahoo.com 407-239-8468.
New: Vouchers are available for airport garage parking from a GOAA rep. in the terminal for this event – maximum of 3 hours – BUT you have to take a paper/card upon entering the airport garage. The vouchers will not work if you use the SunPass transponders – we cannot credit the charge back.
For the Early Birds - you can wave these veterans off in the morning no later than 5am – same location. They process thru Security early and quickly. Wave them off for a wonderful day!
Pars & Stripes Forever Golf Tournament - Fri, May 29. Disney’s Palm Golf Course is the site for this 5th annual event sponsored by Camaraderie Foundation. The Foundation provides counseling resources for warriors (past and present) and their families – especially for those experiencing Post Traumatic Stress. The proceeds of this tournament assist with those resources. CENTRAL FLORIDA LIVES HAVE BEEN SAVED, and more can be helped with YOUR help. Sponsorships (corporate and private) are VERY welcomed. 8am Shotgun Start. Info online or to register at www ParsandStripes2015.kintera.org or contact Jackie Nelson at 407.841.0071jnelson@camaraderiefoundation.org
South Central Florida Stand Down – Sat. May 30 – open to all veterans of Brevard, Osceola and Indian River counties. 8am – 2pm at American Legion Post 117, 189 Veterans Dr., Palm Bay, 32909. Services provided will include medical, dental, legal, chiro, PTS/TBI/MST screening and counseling, haircuts, mani/pedis, dog grooming, food stamp and housing assistance, food, much more. Transportation can be provided. To volunteer, donate or info contact Dorothy Walsh, 321-426-6736 standown2015@aol.com
VN3KT’s Spring Charity Ball – Sat. May 30 – This not-for-profit group within the local Vietnamese Community sponsors this event as this year marks the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War Commemoration, the 40th Anniversary of the fall of Saigon and the end of the Vietnam War. They are very appreciative of the American forces who served in their former country. All proceeds go toward funding for Engraving Fallen Heroes' Names on Brick project – goal of 40 bricks from this event. 7pm to 12mn. $15/pp. Dance to live music, food, cash bar. Orlando Moose Lodge #766, 5001 N. Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, 32810 – just north of Lee Road on OBT – west of I-4. Info: Jen at jm_vn3kt@yahoo.com
Greeters needed! Honor Flight Welcome Home –Sat. May 30 – Orlando Int’l Airport –After a day spent in Washington DC, 19 veterans of WWII, including 3 women, and 6 Korean War veteransreturn home thru Orlando Int’l Airport. 8 vets are over 90! The hub of the nation-wide organization will take veterans on a single day trip to our nation’s capital where they visit the WWII, Korea, and Vietnam War Memorials, Marine Corps Iwo Jima and the Air Force Monuments, and witness the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery. This group will return at about 9:00pm and enter the terminal area at about 9:30 - 10pm. Come welcome these former warriors home! “Welcome Home” receptions at the airports makes a difference! Bring your flags, banners and signs! – Southwest Airlines # 2642 from Baltimore-Washington (BWI), Terminal A, Airside 2 (hotel area in front of Starbucks.) Before leaving home, check online to see if the flight is on time because there may be delays due to weather, mechanical or medical issues.
Free parking has been arranged at an off airport property – FastPark and Relax – who has been very generous to Honor Flights with free parking and shuttles to the airport (tips welcomed by drivers!) - Contact Cathy Haynes for those details NLT 7pm - chaynes11629@yahoo.com 407-239-8468.
New: Vouchers are available for airport garage parking from a GOAA rep. in the terminal for this event – maximum of 3 hours – BUT you have to take a paper/card upon entering the airport garage. The vouchers will not work if you use the SunPass transponders – we cannot credit the charge back.
For the Early Birds - you can wave these veterans off in the morning no later than 5am – same location. They process thru Security early and quickly. Wave them off for a wonderful day!
American Legion Post 112 Memorial Day Commemoration - Sun. May 31 – 11am – The Post members along with Sea Cadets, Fleet Reserve, and Boy Scouts assist with ceremony. Public invited. 407-671-6404. 4490 N. Goldenrod Rd., Winter Park, 32792 (btwn Aloma Blvd and University Blvd.)
Flag Retirement ceremony – Sat. June 13, 12 noon at the Orlando Scottish Rite Center, 1485 Grand Rd., Winter Park, 32792. Sponsored by the Knights of St. Andrews with participation by scouts and veteran groups. Gather your neighborhood retired flags, those that are torn, tattered and faded. Bring them for proper retirement and disposal. Or call for pickup – 407-657-4550. Past years have had over 4000 flags respectfully retired. Alternatively, any American Legion or VFW Post will welcome flags for retirement.
Battle of Midway Commemorative Dinner – Sat. Jun 13 in St. Augustine. The Battle of Midway was a crucial and decisive naval battle in the Pacific Theatre of World War II. Contact the Navy Leagues in Mayport or St. Augustine for info. 904-806-4712 anuday00@aol.com (Note date correction.)
240th Army Birthday Ball – Sat. June 20 – The local Sunshine Chapter of AUSA (Association of the United States Army) planning committee is working diligently to ensure we recognize our Government Civilians and Soldiers with a grand celebration. Special invitations to Wounded Warriors, Soldiers, Gold Star families and our senior war veterans from Central Florida. All interested persons are welcomed to attend with RSVP. 6pm – 11pm at Rosen Centre, 9840 International Drive, Orlando, 32819. Sponsorships welcomed. Info: Mike Flanagan or Tony Krogh at armyball@ausa-sunshine.org 407.277.8069, x 304, (c) 717.609.9665
AUSA - Interested in becoming an AUSA member? Sunshine Chapter has flexible general meeting dates. See the website or contact john.reams@zeltech.com 407.571.9920
Compiled by Cathy Haynes
Member/supporter of numerous veterans and military organizations in Central Florida
407-239-8468
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