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Happy r e r yC M h ri st m as December, 2015
SCC Veterans Day Ceremony Features RADM Larry Chambers
RADM Larry Chambers, USN (Ret) (speaker)
By B. F. Kepley, CAPT USN (Ret) The Annual Sun City Center Veteran’s Day Ceremony, sponsored by the combined military veterans organizations, was held at the Community Center on Wednesday, 11 November, 2015. Legionnaire Janet Taylor, introduced the Grand Marshal, Edward Mahoney, USMC WWII Veteran. The Drummers, were Mr. Edmund James, U. S. Navy (Vet) and Mr. Robert Lohr, SCC Shriner Club, USMC (Vet). Presentation of the Colors was by the East Bay High
Stage: On left, Service Organization Leaders, right, Trinity Singers, at podium Vernon Bartz.
School JROTC Color Guard. The Invocation and closing Benediction was carried out by Pastor Julian Graham, United Methodist Church and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Lt. Col. Gordon Bassett, USAF (Ret). The National Anthem followed by a musical interlude was led by the Trinity Singers directed by the Rev. James Feist. A veteran’s service tribute was also led by the Rev. Feist.
The honored speaker, retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Lawrence C. (Larry) Chambers, was introduced by Legionnaire Janet Taylor. RADM Chambers graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1954 and became a naval aviator. He received a degree in aeronautical engineering in 1959. He flew combat missions in Vietnam from the carriers USS Ranger and USS Oriskany. In 1975 then
captain Chambers was in command of the carrier USS Midway, which evacuated more than 3,000 U.S. personnel and South Vietnamese citizens following the fall of Saigon. He was subsequently made commander of Carrier Group 3, which was comprised of six ships, 85 planes, and 6000 personnel. In order to refresh the memory of the audience relative to the huge sacrifices of life and limb our country has had to endure, admiral Chambers provided a historical overview of those losses reaching all the way back to the Revolutionary War. It was indeed a sobering reminder of the immense sacrifices our veterans have made, and are still making, to preserve our cherished freedoms. Subsequent to the presentation, God Bless America was led by the Trinity Singers, Taps was played by the bugler, Rev. James Feist, and the ceremony was closed by Legionnaire Vern Barts, a US Navy veteran. Veterans on Page 2
Freedom Plaza Holds Veterans Day Festival
Story by B. F. Kepley, CAPT USN (Ret), Photos by Kepley and Adam Porter On Veterans Day, Wednesday November 11, Freedom Plaza held a Veterans Day Festival and hometown Honor Flight. The Retired Officer ‘ Corporation, Freedom Plaza, and Flight to Honor of Polk County invited all citizens to join them in thanking our wonderful Veterans. A Hometown Honor Flight provided the opportunity for Veterans, who are physically unable to attend an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., a “virtual” Flight of Honor. The festivities kicked-off at 9 a.m. with the soldiers of the 181 Infantry Division Reenactment and 82nd Reconnaissance Battalion Groups. They are nonprofit groups of amateur WWII historians and enthusiasts. They portrayed the lifestyle, uniforms, and combat tactics of a US Army Soldier during the WWII years. Their displays included WWII era vehicles, weapons, tents, equipment crates and supplies of Infantry and Reconnaissance
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World War II Veterans.
East Bay High School Color Guard.
Harmony Belles from left Jennifer Eddy, Jennifer Hill, and Robin Miller.
units, the individual soldiers’ gear, and of course WWII soldiers in period uniforms. Soldiers at the event interacted with the public at the various displays. Various local vendors were also in attendance from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jen’s Market brought farm fresh produce, eggs, honey, organic based skin care products, and more. They also displayed local unique arts and
crafts, and provided hot food. A short parade to cheer on our Hometown Honor Flight Honorees began on American Eagle Blvd/Upper Creek and ended at the heart of the festival. (Golfview Terrace Recreation area on Freedom Plaza Circle), took place at 11 a.m. Following the parade, honorees were awarded and recognized at a special ceremony featuring
Gary Vidito, published songwriter, playwright and actor/singer.
the beautiful Harmony Belles and the talented Gary Vidito, a published songwriter, playwright and actor/singer. There were reserved tables present for the various patriotic organizations/ clubs. It was a beautiful day for the festivities and all who attended seemed to enjoy themselves. This program will be an annual event. Continued on Page 4