A special ceremony to mark Veterans Day in Ocala

Students, veterans and guests gathered at the Ocala-Marion County Veterans Memorial Park on Friday for the annual Marion County Public Schools Veterans Day salute to those who served.

“Today, it’s our privilege to say thank you to all of America’s veterans, to let you know we appreciate you for your service and honor you for your sacrifices,” MCPS Director of Public Relations and event moderator Kevin Christian said, according to an event script.

The event, in its 17th year, saw an estimated 1,500 students and dozens of veterans and guests enjoy a patriotic music backdrop by the 78-member band Howard Middle School Symphonic Band and Chorus led by Brittany Schofield; Shady Hill Elementary School Chorus with 81 fourth and fifth grade members, according to teacher Karla Cavalier; and the Forest High School Canto Cats.

Fire Control Tech Chief Michael G. Kelso pumps his fist during the playing of the U.S. Coast Guard theme song.

Ed Lanza, a paraprofessional at Saddlewood Elementary, served with the U.S.Army 101st Airborne during the Vietnam War. He speaks with his students about his service and once a student asked if he was in the Civil War.

Lanza and Saddlewood Elementary Principal Heather Lipira accompanied a group of students from their school including Preston Wright, 11.

Preston said he has learned some military history from his 14-year-old brother and he appreciates Mr. Lanza’s service.

Army veteran Josh Roos served from 2000 to 2014, including deployment to Iraq. He brought his 11-year-old triplets Iris, Felicity and Corbin to the event. He feels it’s “absolutely” important the triplets learn the meaning of veterans’ service.

“I’m proud of (my dad),” Iris said.

Many students, including ROTC unit members, attended Friday’s ceremony.

Nearby, Navy veteran Daniel Beldock, 34, watched the event with his 3-year-old twins, Summer and Autumn.

Beldock said teaching values and the “big picture” to his children is important.

Vietnam War veteran John Grimstead commented at the event about the importance of youth learning about veteran service.

“We’ve been there (and, the kids) don’t know what it is,” he said.

MCPS Superintendent Diane Gullett called the event a ”fantastic day” to honor veterans. During her remarks she spoke of the 260 veterans who serve in the local public school system and, following the program, stated she has a goal of more face to face interaction between students and veterans.

U.S. Marine and Vietnam War veteran and three time Purple Heart recipient Bob Giles, 77, came to the event in uniform. He spoke of the importance of remembering the “true heroes,” the service members who did not come home.

Al Lugo, who served as an Army lieutenant colonel, attended dressed in his cavalry uniform complete with a Stetson hat.

The event included playing the national anthem and the group was led in the Pledge of Allegiance by Hillcrest School students Ashanti Crooks and Skylynn Nichols the event script states.

This was the scene at Friday’s ceremony marking Veterans Day in Ocala.

The event script lists Daniella Wray and Alana Nguyen of Hammett Bowen Jr. Elementary School, named in honor of Marion County’s only Medal of Honor recipient, who read patriotic essays; and teacher Spencer Dougherty with the same school spoke of his experience as an Air Force veteran.

JROTC units participating in the event included: Navy from Vanguard High School; Air Force, Forest High School; Army, West Port High School; Army, Lake Weir High School; and Air Force, Belleview High School.

Victoria Harrinaraine, 17, serves as JRROTC wing commander and stood at the head of the unit. Victoria already has her private pilots license and has a goal of serving as a fighter pilot.

“We can’t thank veterans enough,” she said.

JROTC members Naomi Nastav, 15, Christopher Rushing, 17, and Ethan Bowman, 17, were part of a first ever at the event combined JROTC Color Guard led by active duty Florida Army National Guard member Sebastian Bennoon, a 2023 Dunnellon High School graduate.

The various JROTC units provided a drill demonstration during the event.

Sgt. First Class Sgt. Kris Clere, local Florida Army National Guard recruiter, school district volunteer and JROTC mentor, was on hand for the combined exercise.

Master Sgt. Thomas Young with the Belleview High School JROTC gave high marks for the participation by 37 members.

Taps was sounded and a rifle salute was provided by the Ocala Police Department and cannon salute by Army major (retired) Morrey Deen.

The event included a ceremonial wreath laying by the family of U.S. Army Specialist Robert Blair, a Lake Weir High School graduate who was killed in combat on May 25, 2006 during Operation Iraqi Freedom, according to the event script.

Charlee Webb, Blair’s sister and Pastor Danny McCullough of Church of Grace, Blair’s uncle, accompanied by Staff Sgt. Jason Rogers placed a ceremonial wreath.

“(My brother) was the most heartfelt person. He loved this country,” Webb said.

At the close of the event, Jeffrey Askew, director of the Marion County Veterans Service Office, which oversees the park, introduced Ron Oppliger, chairman of the Friends of Marion County’s Veterans Park Foundation, who accepted a donation of $141,000 from Douglas Cone III and Charlie Ingrilli of Cone Distributors to be used toward a new monument.

The monument is titled “Family” and features statues of a soldier and his wife and child welcoming him home. A tall plaque behind what appear to be the life-sized figures is engraved with the wording from a “letter home” according to an image of the completed monument.

The actual monument should be in place in about a year.

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Students, veterans, residents gather to mark Veterans Day in Ocala