INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — With Memorial Day on the horizon, the Board of County Commissioners and Vero Beach City Council took time to recognize service men and women at their respective meetings on Tuesday.
“There is a price for freedom,” Commissioner Joe Flescher reminded the audience during what he called the most solemn proclamation that the Board does in the course of the year.
Flescher encouraged everyone to remember those local residents and families who have paid that price, either themselves or with the loss of loved ones, such as the two Gold-Star Families who will be on-hand for the Memorial Day Ceremonies on Monday.
“There are many folks who did not come home and those who did come home, some of those have deep and rooted scars that may not be obvious,” Flescher said, acknowledging those who still suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, or even from the economic and social challenges re-integrating into civilian life after military service.
In addition to recognizing by proclamation this coming Monday as Memorial Day, Commissioners heard a proclamation honoring the 50th anniversary of Veterans Memorial Island in Vero Beach.
Located south of the Merrill Barber Bridge, the veterans Memorial Island Sanctuary was dedicated with the inscription “Lest We Forget,” in 1964.
Another memorial honoring veterans of the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Global War on Terror, will be unveiled as part of the county’s Memorial Day ceremony on Monday in Memorial Park in Sebastian.
The Indian River County Fire Fighters presented a short video at both meetings, expressing their appreciation for the troops. The video highlighted the words, “honor,” “duty,” and “sacrifice,” between clips depicting soldiers serving in the field.
Those three words were just a few in a long list that both County Commissioners and Vero Beach City Council members used in reverence today in expressing gratitude and giving honor to those who have served this country.
Staff Reporter Lisa Zahner contributed to this article.