With a clear blue sky overhead, roughly 2,000 people filed onto the Veterans Memorial Island Sanctuary to attend last Monday’s Memorial Day Ceremony hosted by the Veterans Council of Indian River County to commemorate the military men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country during times of war and conflict.
Visitors brought chairs and blankets and sought out patches of shade to keep cool on the warm May morning, and local Boy Scout troop members distributed ice-cold bottles of water to keep everyone hydrated. The trees on the tranquil island provided some welcome relief to both attendees and parade participants, sweltering in their full dress uniforms.
The flag-waving crowd also showed their appreciation for the interludes of patriotic music played by the Vero Beach High School Band as well as an inspiring rendition of the Star Spangled Banner sung by Dolores Mark.
Members of the Veterans Memorial Island Sanctuary Committee, Master of Ceremonies Col. Darryle “Sam” Kouns USA (Ret.), distinguished guests and speakers sat solemnly on the bandstand while numerous veterans and disabled military and their families sat on bleacher benches nearby that had been reserved for them.
Jamie Owens, wife of Navy Seaman Ronald Scott Owens, a Vero resident who was killed in the attack on the USS Cole, spoke to the gathered crowd, as did keynote speaker Lt. Gen. William Welser III USAF (Ret.), who leads the Space Coast Honor Flight, ushering veterans to Washington, D.C. to visit war memorials. Welser acknowledged the 1.3 million service personnel who were being honored that day, having died in the service of their country.
Many were noticeably moved by the ceremony as Piper Michael Hyde led Army Staff Sgt. John Melia, who placed the Memorial Wreath by the marker for Owens, the most recent veteran from this area to be killed in action.
“I have gone to all of these since my son Danny went to West Point,” said a teary-eyed Linda Colontrelle, president of the Military Moms Prayer Group. “I now especially understand the true meaning of these ceremonies and see that we are all so blessed. How could it not touch your heart?”
“I really appreciate what the veterans do for us,” said Lynda Stonecipher, who has attended with husband Richard for the past six years. “I had a son and son-in-law in the Army and I think they always give a tremendous message at these events. I really love the island, too.”
“We appreciate all the sacrifices the veterans have made,” said her friend, Mary DeHaas. “The keynote address was right on target and meant the most to me today, and the words by Mrs. Owen touched all of us.”
“I think that it is wonderful that Vero, for such a small town, can put on such a production and have the major crowd that we did, who are so patriotic,” added Stonecipher.
“The country needs to be grateful for the sacrifices of the current members of the military and especially for those who died in the service of our country,” said John Michael Matthews, past president of the Veterans Council and a member of the Sanctuary Committee, reiterating the importance of the solemn ceremony to remember fallen heroes. “How lucky we are to have had those who had the foresight to set this island aside for this purpose.”
All branches of service are represented on Veterans Memorial Island Sanctuary, which exists as a tribute from the community to honor all veterans, especially those who served from Indian River County. A Sanctuary Committee oversees the Island in cooperation with the Veterans Council of Indian River County.