- April 16, 2024
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A veteran salutes during the Flagler County government's Memorial Day ceremony. Photos by Jonathan Simmons
Rep. Michael Waltz speaks during Palm Coast's Memorial Day ceremony, held in Heroes Memorial Park.
David Lydon, Flagler County's Veterans Services officer, speaks at the county's Memorial Day ceremony at the Government Services Building in Bunnell.
Junior ROTC cadets prepare to post the colors at the Flagler County Memorial Day ceremony.
U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz speaks at Palm Coast's Memorial Day ceremony in Heroes Memorial Park.
Local branches of veterans organizations took part in the county's ceremony.
Medal of Honor recipient Melvin Morris addresses the audience at the Flagler County Memorial Day ceremony.
Palm Coast City Councilman Nick Klufas led the city's ceremony.
Flagler County Commission Chairman Donald O'Brien speaks at the county government's ceremony.
Matanzas High School JROTC Instructor Thomas Hall looks on as cadets prepare to post the colors at the Government Services Building.
Army Sgt. First Class and Medal of Honor recipient Melvin Morris speaks at the Flagler County Memorial Day ceremony.
Local branches of veterans organizations took part in the county's ceremony.
Vince Cautero sings "God Bless the USA."
Local branches of veterans organizations took part in the county's ceremony.
Marine Corps League members participate in the Flagler County Memorial Day ceremony.
Residents carrying U.S. flags and wearing red, white and blue came together May 31 in Palm Coast and Bunnell to mark Memorial Day in the largest local-government-led ceremonies held in Flagler since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Palm Coast City Councilman Nick Klufas opened Palm Coast's 8 a.m. gathering at Heroes Memorial Park, reading the names of local service members who died in the line of duty and are memorialized in the park's granite monument, and recounting the numbers who have died in the United States' past and current conflicts.
"Today is the day we take time to share our eternal gratitude to each and every one of them," Klufas said.
Klufas, elected in 2016, is the longest-serving council member who was available to lead the city's event: Mayor Milissa Holland recently resigned, while Vice Mayor Eddie Branquinho is out of the country.
In his remarks as the city's guest speaker, U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz, a Green Beret and National Guard colonel, recalled the courage of the men who'd fought and died under his command. He asked veterans to continue serving their communities.
"Those of us that lost brothers and sisters need to personalize it for so many Americans out there that don’t know what's been sacrificed," Waltz said.
Waltz, in speeches at both the Palm Coast ceremony and the Flagler County ceremony held at 10 a.m. at the county's Government Services Building in Bunnell, called for a national service requirement in which young people would serve in the military, the Peace Corps or other volunteer initiatives, such as working in national parks or tutoring at inner city schools. The proposal garrnered applause at the county ceremony.
Waltz said that serving one another is what makes American great.
"You do it with people who don’t look like you do, who don’t come from the same backgrounds — that’s how you learn to understand each other and appreciate each other," he said.
The county's ceremony was highlighted by a speech by Medal of Honor recipient Melvin Morris, who, as an Army staff sergeant serving Vietnam in 1969, led soldiers across enemy lines to retrieve a fallen commander, destroying an enemy force that had pinned down his battalion.
Morris spoke of seeing the flags that had been raised by the enemy taken down and replaced by American flags carried by U.S. soldiers.
"These men are willing to give their life for that symbol, because the symbol means freedom — freedom for us all," Morris said. "There’s no greater love than a man who lays his life down for another."
The ceremonies included the Pledge of Allegiance, benedictions, the laying of wreaths, the singing of the National Anthem and God Bless the USA, and, at the county ceremony, last roll call — the recitation of the names of local veterans service organization members who have died in the past year.
