Veterans Day Celebration to honor service members
The public will have the chance to recognize U.S. military service members on Saturday.
Hosted by the Lee Coast Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America and the city of Sanibel, the Annual Veterans Day Celebration will take place on Nov. 11 at 10:55 a.m. at the flagpole outside of city hall. Prior to the program’s start, music will be performed beginning at 10:45 a.m.
“It is to celebrate our veterans and acknowledge their service,” retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Fred Bondurant, a former chapter president and an event organizer, said of the long-standing tradition.
Before the program’s start, the BIG ARTS Concert Band will play patriotic music.
“They play a lot of (John Philip) Sousa marches — just to kind of set the mood, if you will,” he said. “Souza wrote all of the military marches, like ‘The Washington Post March.'”
Boy Scout Troop and Cub Scout Pack 1740 will raise the flag at 11 a.m. with the Sanibel Police Department’s Honor Guard. Bondurant explained that the flag is raised at 11 a.m. in recognition of the World War II armistice and end of fighting “on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.”
The invocation will follow. Typically, it is delivered by one of the islands’ congregations and the honor is rotated among the groups, but there were scheduling conflicts as post-hurricane recovery continues.
“We’re going to have one of our members do the invocation,” he said.
Also every year, the chapter picks a special guest speaker for the celebration. This year, it will be retired U.S. Army Lt. Colonel William Zacovic. A member of the chapter, he previously served as the operations officer for the School District of Lee County’s Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps.
Bondurant noted that Lee County boasts the largest JROTC contingent in the country.
“I asked him to talk about the JROTC program and how it benefits the youths that participate,” he said, adding that past speakers usually have a topic they focus on and may share their experiences serving.
The winners of the Annual Veterans Day Essay Contest, hosted by the MOAA chapter and city’s Sanibel Recreation Center, will be recognized — one boy and one girl from grades 4-8 on the island.
“This year, we also have a runner-up,” Bondurant said.
“We give them different topics about Veterans Day,” he added of the essay subject.
Bank of the Islands will present each winner with a $100 check, with $50 for the runner-up.
As part of the celebration, veterans who passed in the last year will be remembered.
“Fortunately, I could only find one this year,” Bondurant said.
“We also recognize veterans in the police, fire and public services,” he added.
Attendees will have an opportunity to say a few words.
“We call that Veterans Remembrances,” Bondurant said. “They can get up and say something about their experiences (serving), or they can say something about their dad or uncle or something.”
“We also do a sing-a-long of the various service hymns,” he added.
Military members are invited to stand while the hymn for their branch is sung.
“It will be the first year that we include the Space Force,” Bondurant said.
The playing of “Taps” will conclude the celebration, performed by the BIG ARTS band.
The community is encouraged to come out.
“We try to make it a feel-good program about veterans and patriotism,” he said.
Billy’s Bike Shop will provide water for attendees.
For more information, contact Bondurant at fred@thebrg.net
Sanibel City Hall is at 800 Dunlop Road, Sanibel.
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IF YOU GO
What
Annual Veterans Day Celebration
When
Nov. 11 starting at 10:55 a.m.
Where
Sanibel City Hall, 800 Dunlop Road, Sanibel
Details
Free and open to the community
To reach TIFFANY REPECKI / trepecki@breezenewspapers.com, please email