SEBASTIAN — “Patriotism is alive and well in Sebastian,” Commander Jack Willis said, addressing the crowd of several hundred gathered at Veterans Memorial Park along Indian River Drive in Sebastian. The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10210 leader said he was amazed by the turnout for the annual Veterans Day ceremony.
Hundreds filled the park, some taking seats on the metal bleachers while others brought their own chairs. Notably missing from the audience, however, were school-aged children, who were in class instead.
The lack of children at the event was not lost on County Commissioner Joe Flescher, who was called upon to address the crowd. He said it was a shame the students couldn’t have had the day off today to attend the Veterans Day ceremony for themselves instead of having last Friday off.
“We need to have the children here,” Flescher said.
The commissioner addressed those in attendance who have not served in the military, telling them that this is their opportunity to thank the veterans.
“On the count of ‘three,’” he said. “One, two, three.”
“Thank you!” the crowd cried.
Sebastian Mayor Bob McPartlan also addressed the crowd, sharing his own story of being the son of a veteran – and being a veteran, himself.
“Veterans Day brings back a lot of good memories for me,” he said, explaining that his father, who served in the Navy, always marched in the parades. He’d straighten up a little bit more, stand a little taller.
McPartlan “rebelled” and joined the Army, he said, but his father was still proud. “Service to country is extremely important,” he said, adding that it is something that needs to be passed on from generation to generation.
“We can never forget the men and women who serve,” McPartlan said.
Barney Giordan, a 40-year serviceman in the U.S. Army and Coast Guard Auxilliary, reminded the audience that Veterans Day is a day set aside to honor and remember those who have served, regardless of whether they saw war.
Those who served in times of war and those who were spared from wartime duties share a common bond, he said, a shared promise of giving their lives to the country.
“It is a debt that cannot fully be repaid,” Giordan said. “But showing our appreciation is the least we can do.”
