SEBASTIAN — Hundreds gathered in Sebastian’s Riverview Park as a stiff morning breeze buffeted the flag flying above the Veterans Memorial.
There were young families, school children, current military and dozens of veterans who had served in Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, Korea, and a multitude of other duty stations at home and abroad, as well as a few, esteemed WWII veterans, representing the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine.
Participating in the ceremony included members of Sebastian’s American Legion Post 189 and VFW Post 10210; the Sebastian River High Band with Director Ashby Goldstein; Rabbi Michael Birnholz; Pastor Dave Newhart; Cub Scout Pack 589; the VFW and AL auxiliaries; bagpiper Michael Hyde; the Sebastian Area Veterans Honor Guard, Legion Riders. For the third year, the Sebastian Walmart provided free cookies and water for the attendees.
Among guests were Sebastian Mayor Bob McPartlan, Council member Richard Gillmor, Council member and veteran Andrea Coy, Police Chief Michelle Morris; India River County Sheriff Deryl Loar; and County Commissioner Joe Flescher.
“It means a lot to me, as a large portion of my family is in the military,” said Jordan Carrick, a member of the Sebastian River High School Navy Junior ROTC Color Guard. “I can’t help but smile when I see so many veterans honored here. I am proud that this is my country.”
“This day means I can do something for my community and those who don’t always have a voice,” said fellow JROTC member Emily Arsenault.
“It means a lot to honor those who have served here and elsewhere. It is an honor to be in the Color Guard,” said Steven Weimann, another member of the JROTC.
“To me, this means more than only a city or county but a common cause, across the whole country, having these events is a way to show we remember and honor these veterans, and those who now serve,” said JROTC member Clark Oujevolk.
The keynote speaker was Retired Col. Bill Prince, a West Point graduate who served as a Ranger and in Special Forces in Vietnam and later worked for the CIA, receiving one of the its highest awards of valor for “extraordinary heroism … in the face of hostile armed opposition.”
Retiring after 31 years, he was recalled at age 61 and assigned to Special Operations Command at MacDill AFB, Tampa.
At the conclusion of his address, Prince shared a quote from Army veteran Charles Province repeated many times across the nation on this Veterans Day:
It is the Soldier, not the minister, who has given us freedom of religion.
It is the Soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the Soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us freedom to protest.
It is the Soldier, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the Soldier, not the politician, who has given us the right to vote.
It is the Soldier who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who allows the protester to burn the flag.
