Veterans Day ceremony to be held Nov. 11
By MEGHAN BRADBURY
mbradbury@breezenewspapers.com
The community is invited to honor all who served this Veterans Day with a special ceremony at City Hall next week.
Fred Bondurant, a member of the American Legion, said he has personally done the Veterans Day ceremony for 12 years.
The first Veterans Day ceremony was held in 1989.
“We try to make it as much of a small-town community event as we can,” he said. “One percent of Americans actually serve in the military, so it is nice to recognize those who answer the call. Veterans Day honors all veterans, while Memorial Day is to honor the veterans that passed.”
The ceremony will be held on Veterans Day, Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m. in front of City Hall, at 800 Dunlop Road, at the flag pole.
Fred served in the United States Air Force for 23 years — some of which was in the National Guard.
“A lot of people gave a lot and we are honoring them — some more than others — all veterans gave something,” he said.
His wife, Mary, also a veteran, served in the United States Air Force for 10 years, both active and in the National Guard.
“As a veteran myself, I have been attending long before Fred started emceeing it,” she said.
Fred said the Sanibel Police Department and Sanibel Fire & Rescue District work with the Boy Scouts to raise the flag, and the Scouts also pass out cool water, which is provided by Billy’s Bikes.
The music is provided by the BIG ARTS Concert Band, and the Junior National Honor Society will lead the Pledge of Allegiance.
“The last couple of years, the kids from The Sanibel School chorus sing a few patriotic songs,” he said.
The speaker this year is Sanibel Fire & Rescue District Deputy Chief John DiMaria, who served in the United States Navy for eight years.
“It’s an honor to be part of the ceremony. Service runs through my family, and Veterans Day is about the people who made a promise to this country without knowing what it would cost them. Being asked to speak to our community is something I don’t take lightly and always honored to do,” DiMaria said. “I’ve seen this community at its hardest moment, and I’ve seen it come back stronger. That kind of resilience doesn’t come from nowhere. It comes from people who believe in serving something bigger than themselves, and nobody has shown us that better than our veterans. Veterans Day is a chance for our community to show up for the men and women who did that for our country.”
Fred said he also tries to get a different member of the clergy to give the invocation every year. This year it is the Rev. Dr. Sally Haynes, of the Sanibel Congregational United Church of Christ.
“At the end of the ceremony we have Veteran’s Remembrance. People who are attending can talk about themselves, a relative, a parent that served. Sometimes those are quite moving,” Fred said.
Mary said the Veteran’s Remembrance stands out to her every year.
“Maybe it’s a fun story, maybe a war story, maybe the camaraderie they experienced,” she said. “We still have some Korean War veterans that attend. We have lost so many of our WWII veterans. It’s a moment that is a big reflection to what our country has done and the people in our community that have served.”
Mary said the Armed Forces song is also played during the ceremony giving veterans within each branch a moment to stand up and be honored for their service.
“It’s a warming moment of every branch of service represented in our community,” she said.
Fred said Recreation Director Andrea Miller is a huge help in getting the ceremony organized, and Public Works puts up the tents and chairs.