- April 25, 2024
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Joe Licata of American Legion Post 115 rings the bell for Last Roll Call during Flagler County' s Memorial Day ceremony. (Photo by Jonathan Simmons)
Anthony Martinez, commandant, Marine Corps League 876, watches during a Memorial Day ceremony in Palm Coast May 29. (Photo by Jonathan Simmons)
Palm Coast firefighter paramedic Patrick Shakes salutes during the city' s Memorial Day ceremony at Heroes Memorial Park. (Photo by Jonathan Simmons)
Palm Coast City Council members Nick Klufas, Bob Cuff and Heidi Shipley stand for the Pledge of Allegiance at Palm Coast' s Memorial Day ceremony. (Photo by Jonathan Simmons)
Edward Beier, American Legion Post 115, speaks at a city of Palm Coast Memorial Day ceremony May 29. (Photo by Jonathan Simmons)
Former County Commissioner George Hanns, an Army veteran, salutes during Flagler County' s Memorial Day ceremony. (Photo by Jonathan Simmons)
George Stockley (left) and Jeff Vick, both of American Legion Post 115, stand for the singing of "American the Beautiful." (Photo by Jonathan Simmons)
Flagler Beach City Commissioner Jane Mealy speaks at Flagler County' s Memorial Day ceremony May 29. (Photo by Jonathan Simmons)
Junior ROTC cadets bear flags during the county' s Memorial Day ceremony at the Government Services Building in Bunnell. (Photo by Jonathan Simmons)
Navy Petty Officer Third Class Matthew Edward Valentik and Palm Coast firefighter paramedic Patrick Shakes watch as Mayor Milissa Holland speaks during the city of Palm Coast' s Memorial Day ceremony. (Photo by Jonathan Simmons)
Flagler County Commissioner Nate McLaughlin speaks during the county' s Memorial Day ceremony May 29. (Photo by Jonathan Simmons)
County officials salute during the county' s Memorial Day ceremony at the Government Services Building in Bunnell. (Photo by Jonathan Simmons)
Dr. Tracy Hejmanowski speaks during the county' s Memorial Day ceremony. (Photo by Jonathan Simmons)
Palm Coast Mayor Milissa Holland speaks during the city' s Memorial Day ceremony. (Photo by Jonathan Simmons)
Locals wearing red, white and blue and carrying American flags gathered around the stone monuments at Heroes Memorial Park in Palm Coast and the Government Services Building in Bunnell May 29 to honor service members who died serving in the U.S. armed forces.
"It doesn't matter where you served, what you did, how long you were there or when you came home, we all took that same pledge: duty, honor, country. We served to bring peace and freedom to our country and the world. And maybe this hasn't been fulfilled, and maybe it never will be. But the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."
— Edward Beier, American Legion Post 115
The Flagler County service at the Government Services Building honored the late Jonathan "Nat" Spicer, a Marine medic who died March 8, 1968, while serving as a stretcher bearer evacuating wounded soldiers in Vietnam.
Spicer, a graduate of Bunnell High School and the son of a traveling Methodist minister, realized after joining the service that his understanding of his faith was not compatible with taking a human life. He was offered a discharge as a conscientious objector, but declined it, and went into service as a medic.
He died aiding wounded men in the battle of Khe Sanh.
At the county ceremony, Randy Morris, one of Spicer's classmates, read aloud the text from the Navy Cross commendation that was awarded to Spicer after his death.
During the battle, it stated, Spicer, "completely disregarding his own safety," left a position of relative safety to load injured men onto helicopters as the battle intensified. When a round exploded a few feet from him, Spicer shielded a fellow Marine with his body.
"By his dauntless courage, unfaltering determination, and selfless devotion to duty at great risk, Pvt. Spicer upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service," the commendation concluded.
Spicer's family members laid a wreath at the Veterans Memorial in front of the Government Services Building.
At the city of Palm Coast's ceremony, Mayor Milissa Holland read aloud the names of Palm Coast residents who have died in service: Air Force Master Sgt. Michael George Heiser, Marine Corps Lance Cpl. John T. Schmidt III, Marine Corps Sgt. Zachary J. Walters, Army Sgt. Lukas T. Stanford, Air Force Staff Sgt. Robert Stephen Martin O'Neill and Army specialist Raheem Tyson Heighter.
“A hero is a star, a champion, a bold and noble person who puts others before self,” Holland said. “There are so many heroes you can touch with your hands. But the heroes we honor today can only be touched with our hearts."
