- April 24, 2024
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Mayor Jon Netts delivered the following address at the 2011 Memorial Day ceremony at Heroes Park in Palm Coast:
This morning I'd like to share a thought with you. The secret of happiness is freedom, and the secret of freedom is courage. The sort of courage exhibited by the following:
Private Jack Roth, a soldier from St. Louis, was a victim of World War II. He was one of 1,078,162 casualties of that war.
Army Pfc. Steven Asher, a resident of Salt Lake City, gave his life, along with 169,364 other Americans during the Korean War conflict.
Sgt. David Brown from Dearborn, Mich. was killed during the Vietnam War. In those 90 months 211,471 Americans died in Vietnam.
Staff Sgt. John P. Blessinger, from Fort Walton Beach, was killed during the goal for all serving his country; 760 Americans died in this 30-day conflict.
Pfc. Amy R. Sinkler, from Chadbourne, N.C., died in Iraq — one of 4,447 fellow Americans who were victims in this Middle East conflict.
U.S. Master Sgt. Michael George Heiser, one of 19 airmen killed in the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing.
And today we also remember Florida Highway Patrol trooper Darryl L. Haywood Sr., and Flagler County Sheriff’s Deputy Charles “Chuck” Sease.
Someone new these brave men and women — boys and girls in many cases — and loved them very much. These courageous Americans died giving service to our nation.
They were someone's son or daughter, someone's brother or sister, someone's husband or wife, certainly someone's friend neighbor.
They live in the Midwest, the South, the East and West, and yes, right here in Flagler County. Their families and friends miss them every single day. They gave their lives with honor and dignity.
And that is why we gather here on this final Monday in May in testament to all those who are not gathered here today. To the brave men and women whom we remember on Memorial Day, we bow our heads in thanks and in prayer.
Their legacy implores us to be vigilant in defense of our freedoms and our rights. Their legacy reminds us to uphold and honor precisely that which the United States of America stands for. Memorial day is the holiday of our souls.
To conclude the ceremony, after the playing of "Amazing Grace," Netts signaled for the release of birds to remember the men and women who have died in the service of their country.
