Veterans remembered
The semi-annual memorial reading event honored the lives and service of more than 50 local military personnel.
Dave Bice rings a bell to remember each veteran who passed away as their names were read out loud during the Memorial Reading at the Ocala-Marion County Veterans Memorial Park in Ocala on April 6, 2024. [File photo by Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]
Veterans who honorably served their county and died in recent months, including a driver in the famed World War II Red Ball Express supply delivery outfit, were remembered and honored at the Semi-Annual Memorial Reading ceremony held July 12 at the Ocala-Marion County Veterans Memorial Park.
The program is sponsored by Marion County Veterans Service Office, Hospice of Marion County, the Ocala Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Children of the American Revolution Ocali Society and the Friends of the Marion County Veterans Park Foundation.
Veterans who passed away from October 2024 through April of this year were memorialized.
U.S. Army World War II veteran Clinton Burns of Dunnellon, then 99, talks with Raymond Savoie, 94, a veteran of the same service and conflict, at the VFW Veterans Village in Fort McCoy on April 2, 2021. [File photo by Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]
Burns was with Atlantic Coastline Railroad and retired from Florida Power Corp., where he helped build the Crystal River Nuclear Plant. He opened a landscape business and worked until the age of 101 and was an honorary Dunnellon police officer for 15 years prior to his passing, according to the post.
Mary Edmundson, formerly a department coordinator with the Dunnellon Police Department, now with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, knew Burns and was aware of his World War II service. She organized a parade through downtown Dunnellon for his 100th birthday.
“He was part of the Dunnellon Police Department family and part of the family of all Dunnellon. I honor and love him,” Edmundson said in a phone interview.
Burns was married for 63 years to Idella Coston and the family had eight children. He was a man of faith and served as a deacon at the Second Bethel Baptist Church of Dunnellon and Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church, according to the social media post.
The memorial reading ceremony included the reading of the veterans’ names by members of the Ocala Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, accompanied by a bell ring after each name by Dave Bice, and drumming by Jonathan Hurst, the ceremony program noted.
Beverly Lafferty opened the ceremony and Tim Lafferty offered an invocation and closing benediction. Both are with Hospice of Marion County. The national anthem was sung by Kathleen Pottoff; the pledge of allegiance was led by Alexander Mills, president of Children of the American Revolution Ocali Society; and John Earl sang “Amazing Grace.” Members of the Marion County Memorial Honor Guard provided a color guard, rifle salute and playing of taps. Retired U.S. Army Col. Robert Schlegel delivered the keynote address.
Those who were honored included:
US ARMY: William E. Bishop, Richard J. Boehm, Charles R. Buchalla, Clinton Burns, Sam Butler Jr., Juan Cavazos, Ronald Ciampi, Merritt C. Fore Jr.*, Thomas L. Gensman, James F. “Bud” Gilligan, Paul N. Hall, Harrell P. “Peek” Hames, William J. Lavrich, Joseph Lazzara, Joseph R. Mayweather, Anthony C. Mazzafera, Ronald E. McMillin, Jose Montalvo, Ronald E. Neil, Walter Schlentner, Lanford T. “Lanny” Slaughter, Kenneth Smith, Thomas T. Tupps and William L. Wiseman
US NAVY: Darrell D. Anderson, David C. Anthony, Jennings B. “Jack” Bowman Jr., Thomas B. Davidson, James Dean, Jeremiah P. Holland, Francis P. Kinchen, Tajae M. Prendergast, Lonnie Raulerson, Kenneth E. Simons, Ralph Spiller, Jean C. Spenla and Anderson R. Williams
US MARINE CORPS: Jerry Hammett, Marin F. Lenon, Edward W. Luciano, Joseph T. Shore and David A. Teichmann
US AIR FORCE: Norman Acquaviva Sr., Albert DiGiulio Jr., Douglas C. Hall, James Jones, Edward A. Mackay, Michael F. Messina Jr., Robert D. Monahan, John McMullen, John A. Oberg and Raymond L. Thompson
US NATIONAL GUARD: Raffaele “George” Pugliese
US ARMY RESERVES: Merritt C. Fore Jr.* and John F. Repass
*Served in more than one branch
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