Veterans Memorial Island Sanctuary swelled with patriotism on Nov. 11 in observance of Veterans Day and the dedication of a World War I Monument. A sea of red, white and blue surrounded the flagpole – a new ceremonial location in deference to the monument of a WWI “Dixie Doughboy.”
Throughout the ceremony, Saint Edward’s School senior Ben Evans, attired in an authentic WWI uniform, stood at attention alongside the bronze and granite monument, which was funded by the Military Officers Association of America.
“World War I, the ‘Great War,’ the ‘War to End All Wars’ claimed 16 million souls: soldiers and sailors and civilians alike,” said retired U.S. Army Maj. Terry Treat, master of ceremonies.
“Today, on Veterans Day at long last, we of Vero Beach formally honor those who served in that horrendous war.”
Appallingly, soon after the WWI monument was installed, it was vandalized in a deplorable act of disrespect to veterans of all wars. But throughout the solemn ceremony, a sense of pride reverberated among the crowd of active-duty military, veterans, law enforcement officers and a grateful community.
The keynote speaker, retired USAF Col. Carlos Halcomb, served 30 years, flying special operations helicopters and commanding special ops forces worldwide. He received 77 medals and decorations as a combat veteran of six wars and conflicts from the Persian Gulf War through Iraqi Freedom.
“Additionally, he served as the Deputy Commander for the Department of Defense Manned Spaceflight Support Office, responsible for training NASA astronauts and military forces on space shuttle launch and recovery operations. He culminated his career as an inspector general, responsible for ensuring the combat readiness of nearly 75,000 airmen nationwide,” said Treat.
Since retirement, Halcomb has flown as a NASA pilot, trained helicopter pilots and served as administrative manager at the Vero Beach Regional Airport.
“It’s great to see so many family members, friends and comrades all gathered here in this sacred place,” said Col. Halcomb. “This has been a long time coming, as we mark the centennial of our World War I veterans returning home from their wartime service in Europe and to have a monument solely dedicated to their services in that war.”
Halcomb recognized that it was WWI Lt. Alex MacWilliam who envisioned the sanctuary, noting the irony of not having a WW I monument until now.
“This is a unique sanctuary where veterans recall days gone by and fallen comrades. Families, friends and children can all gather here to learn and remember that freedom is indeed not free.
Let this monument, as with so many others here, serve generations to come as a sober reminder of why we serve and why we fight to preserve our way of life in America, the greatest bastion of freedom mankind has ever known,” said Halcomb.
“This nation owes you all a debt of gratitude, a debt that our founding fathers knew would be perpetual as freedom is the one thing that tyranny will forever desire to extinguish,” said Halcomb. “On this day, we pay perpetual tribute to our World War I veterans. We humbly honor the men and women who served and sacrificed in the Great War with this monument.”
Halcomb added that throughout our nation’s history, military service members have protected the values and liberties upon which this nation was built.
“And we honor them all on this day, Veterans Day,” added Halcomb.
Photos provided
