Salute to veterans

The Humble Squadron comes into formation over Leeward Air Ranch as they prepare to fly their Honor Flight over the Veterans Day ceremony at the Ocala-Marion County Veterans Memorial Park in Ocala, Fla. on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. Eight pilots of the eight Nanchang Chinese Air Force aircraft met at Leeward Air Ranch to debrief and get ready before their Veterans Day flyover in Ocala. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2025.

Home » Community

Posted November 11, 2025 | By Andy Fillmore / Photos by Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette

Students from 23 Marion County Public Schools and members of the public gathered at the Ocala-Marion County Veterans Memorial Park on Tuesday, Nov. 11, to honor veterans who served and sacrificed.

An estimated 2,000 people attended the annual MCPS Veterans Day event, which saw students join in for patriotic songs and tributes to veterans of the country’s armed forces.

“This means a lot,” said U.S. Army veteran Jerry Arthur of Ocala, who served in the Vietnam War with the 8th Battalion 6th Artillery.

Kevin Christian, MCPS director of public relations, served as moderator for the event, which opened with the posting of the colors by the Ocala Police Department and MCPS JROTC color guards.

The attendees were led in the pledge of allegiance by Hillcrest School students Javia Blunt and Austin Lassiter. The Canto Cats group from Forest High School sang the “Star Spangled Banner” and Shady HILL HARMONY Saying a patriotic medley which included “This Land is Our Land” and a “You’re A Grand Old Flag” (US Coast Guard and Collins arr.).

Military representatives and families placed a commemorative wreath and Ocala Police Department officers gave a 21-gun salute. The North Marion High School Jazz Band played patriotic songs including “Stars and Stripes Forever” and Kymora James with NMHS Jazz Band played taps.

MCPS Interim Superintendent Danielle Brewer spoke and thanked all veterans, including 263 who work with MCPS.

“Here in Marion County we take great pride in our deep roots of service and sacrifice. Our community is home to thousands of veterans—men and women who have worn our nation’s uniform with courage and integrity,” Brewer said.

Brewer said the “legacy of veterans” lives on through the youth.

“You have given them the gift of freedom, the opportunity to learn, to dream and to build brighter futures,” she said.

Brewer thanked veterans for “your sacrifice and your example.”

Hammett Bowen Jr. Elementary School students Wanda Carreras, Cambria Rados and Stephanie Garcia Sandigo presented patriotic essays.

The Howard Middle School Vivace and Amore Choirs sang “A Tribute to the Armed Services” and “We Say Thank You.”

Alcides Lugo, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, recalled the temperature extremes he encountered while deployed in combat in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom.

“MCPS does a good job teaching students about veterans,” he said.

Jim Gillyard, a 24-year veteran of the Army who served as a military policeman in the Vietnam War from 1966 to 1967 said it was “good to see the children” involved in the ceremony.

Gillyard said he knew Hammett Bowen Jr., Marion County’s sole Medal of Honor recipient, when both attended Ocala High School.

Bowen died while protecting fellow soldiers from the blast of a grenade during the Vietnam War.

Sharon Flowers, an Army veteran and teacher at Harbor View Elementary School, joined the military in 2014 originally to help with her education. She served as a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear specialist and learned a leadership role, responsible for up to a 12-soldier squad and vehicles. She learned to “lead with compassion” and support others.

Flowers, 29, said she brings her Army experience to teaching and works to “inspire” others.

The Humble Squadron provided a flyover of eight vintage military aircraft, the most planes the group has ever flown in formation over the park. The planes were piloted by combat veterans, mostly of the Gulf War.

The squadron’s lead pilot for the flyover, Michael Peters, said it was a “big deal for us and a big deal for the spectators” especially the children.

Peters served as an Army 1st Cavalry door gunner in the Gulf War and said other pilots were former F-15, F-16 and F-18 pilots.

Peters said three pilots in the flyover flew A-7 aircraft from the USS Kennedy aircraft carrier and made the initial strikes of the Gulf War. One of the pilots in the flyover was scrambled to provide security in Sept. 11, 2001, in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.

Daisy Diaz, director of Marion County Veterans Services, and Marion County Commissioner Matt McClain were passengers on the flight, Peters said.

Peters said the Humble Squadron is undefeated in formation flying competitions in the Southeast and they have has provided flyovers for NASCAR, Jacksonville Jaguar games, college football games and air shows, but the veterans’ events like the one on Tuesday and flyovers they perform at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell have special meeting.

“They’re the most rewarding for us,” he said.