Inaugural event
12 local heroes inducted into Marion County Veterans Hall of Fame.
U.S. Navy and U.S Coast Guard veteran William Dorsey, center, is honored by Myles McConico the Veterans Helping Veterans deputy director, left, and Daisy Diaz, the Marion County Veterans Services director, right, as he is inducted into the Marion County Veterans Hall of Fame during the Inaugural Marion County Veterans Hall of Fame in the extension auditorium at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion in Ocala, Fla. on Thursday, March 19, 2026. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2026.
The first ever Marion County Veterans Hall of Fame induction ceremony was held March 19 at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion Auditorium in Ocala.
About 350 guests attended the ceremony, which honored 12 local veterans, including the county’s sole Medal of Honor recipient and several members of the Marion County Memorial Honor Guard, for their lifetimes of service to country and community.
Marion County Commissioner Carl Zalak III praised the inductees in opening remarks for their integrity and “legacy we’ll never forget. Heroes we call neighbors…the spirit and heart of Marion County.”
Zalak acknowledged the Ocala nonprofit Veterans Helping Veterans USA of Marion County as the prime mover in establishing the MCVHOF and County Commissioner Craig Curry as the “tip of the spear” for the county’s participation.
Ocala City councilman James Hilty Sr., a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of the Vietnam War, serves as chairman of the board of Veterans Helping Veterans USA of Marion County.
Five veterans were honored posthumously and seven were inducted into the county’s newly established Veterans Hall of Fame and received a blazer jacket with the MCVHOF logo.
The Florida Department of Veterans Affairs has sponsored the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame for a number of years and two local veterans, Craig Ham (2023) and Steve Petty (2025) have been named into both halls of fame.
Master of ceremonies Roger Waddell, a USMC veteran, said the MCVHOF recognition was about service that extended beyond the inductees’ years in the military and impacted their community. He said service “doesn’t end when you leave your unit.”
Ocala Mayor Ben Marciano told the attendees the inductees not only answered a call to serve their county but continued that service when they came home.
“Service doesn’t end when the uniform comes off,” Marciano said.
Daisy Diaz, director of the Marion County Veterans Service Office and Myles McConico, deputy director, Veterans Helping Veterans USA of Marion County, presented inductee awards.
The five posthumous inductions were:
* Hammett Bowen Jr. , U.S. Army, the county’s only Medal of Honor recipient, who died during the Vietnam War at age 21 when he threw himself on an incoming enemy grenade saving the lives of several comrades.
Commissioner Curry was asked to accept the recognition plaque for Bowen.
“I shed some tears,” Curry said about accepting the plaque.
Curry said he and Bowen, a year or two his senior at Ocala High School, were friends who “used to double date.”
* Frank Rasbury, U.S. Army, called a “cornerstone” of the Marion County veterans’ community who served in numerous organizations.
* Edward Johnson Jr. U.S. Army, Silver Star recipient and aviator who flew “Huey” helicopters and refused to leave fellow soldiers behind; he served on the Munroe Regional Medical Center Board.
* Henry Lamar Hunt, U.S. Army chaplain, known for “whisper” religious services for soldiers on the front lines during the Vietnam War, he spearheaded starting the Quarterly Memorials.
* Lewis Alston, U.S. Marine Corps, veteran of the Vietnam War and Purple Heart recipient. He was in the Marine 1st Division 1st Recon and was injured by shrapnel and suffered from exposure to the chemical Agent Orange. He was known for his selfless commitment to fellow veterans — “it’s not about me” — the induction presentation quoted him.
Alston, who moved to Ocala from Pennsylvania, participated in at least 800 military honors funeral services with the Marion County Memorial Honor Guard and in Pennsylvania. Many in Florida were held at the National Cemetery in Bushnell. He was a regular presence at the Quarterly Memorial honoring local veterans who had recently passed away.
Alston’s brother, Arvin Alston, traveled from Pennsylvania with his wife, Diana, for the inaugural MCVHOF ceremony.
Arvin Alston was clearly moved as he held the recognition plaque which read in part,
“celebrating his tireless devotion and unwavering commitment” and notes his “can do attitude.”
In a previous text exchange, Arvin Alston called Marion County “the community (Lewis Alston) loved.”
The other veterans honored were:
* Jeffrey Askew: U.S. Navy service 1977 to 1999, he served scores of veterans and helped them navigate benefits and more as director of the Marion County Veterans Service Office. He served in the office for 22 years, according to a video presentation and retired in 2025.
Askew stated in the video that military service guided him to “do the right thing” and “take care of the people around me.”
Askew also oversaw the Ocala-Marion County Veterans Memorial Park and organized and participated in many events held at the site, which have helped increase awareness of the park.
* William Dorsey, a Vietnam War veteran, served in the Navy from 1962-1972 and in the Coast Guard from 1972-1982. He commented on how to “work as a team” and community involvement including participation with his church. Since 2007, Dorsey has volunteered to provide military honor funerals for at least 4,500 veterans, according to the presentation.
* John Erskine, served in many capacities in the Army from 1962 to 1987 including battalion commander and in the Pentagon. He said never be “afraid to serve” and that he worked to “set an example” for his children.
* Bruce Gonseth, his 26-year military career, which began in 1978, included service with the Navy and later Navy Security and Department of Defense Police Department in the Jacksonville area. Gonseth has helped an untold number of veterans as a mentor with Veterans Treatment Court and as “someone to listen.” A previous report published in the “Gazette” stated “the veterans could be suffering the effects of PTSD and programs are offered to help with substance abuse issues. Gonseth said about 87% of participants complete the program and about 90% of program graduates do not commit repeat crimes.”
* R. Craig Ham, Army, Vietnam, an Eagle Scout, he joined the Military Police in 1969 and began his Army career in 1974. His service included working under Colin Powell, who he said treated all contacted “with respect.”
Ham’s Florida VHOF biography states that in addition to the Vietnam Service Medal and Legion of Merit Bronze Star, he has a doctorate in urban studies and criminology.
Ham moved to Ocala about 30 years ago and began teaching at Forest High School and instituted an EMIT Engineering Program. He has served and continues to serve on numerous educational and veteran organizations, including as president of the Marion County Veterans Council and as organizer and a primary volunteer for Stuff the Bus to produce classroom materials to students in need.
* Donald Kennedy, Navy, 1971 to 1993, recipient of the Navy National Defense Award member of the Marion County Memorial Honor Guard who has served for at least 700 military honors funerals.
He has overseen the work of the guard and ensured all equipment needed for each ceremony was prepared and taken to the locations. Kennedy has made sure 35 unclaimed veterans received military honors funerals, according to the presentation.
His service career included work with electronics and countermeasures, and has worked with NATO Command. He enjoyed instructing and seeing success. Kennedy serves as a director with the Vet Resource Center in Ocala, which provides the Galleri cancer screening blood tests.
* Stephen Petty, Army aviator, flew more than 1,000 missions in Vietnam War including medical evacuations that saved at least 200 soldiers. Silver Star and Purple Heart Award recipient.
A report published in the “Gazette” stated that a soldier saved by Petty and his crew in 1968 recently wrote to Petty and stated he raised a family and had entered politics.
“He got us home,” the saved soldier reportedly wrote
Petty, also inducted into the state VHOF, serves as president of the Marion County Memorial Honor Guard and co-founded the Vet Resource Center Ocala, which provides the Galleri cancer screening blood tests and can provide referrals for assistance on Agent Orange and Burn Pit concerns. He said at about 700 veterans have taken the Galleri test.
Curry was recognized by inductee Perry for his help in securing a $600,000 Marion County Hospital District grant for the Vet Resource Center toward providing the Galleri cancer screening blood tests here at no cost to veterans and reduced cost to first responders.
Hannah Stuckey sang the national anthem and the Marion County Memorial Honor Guard posted the colors and the members on hand were recognized.
Marion County Commissioner Matt McClain attended the ceremony with his son, Titus, 6.
When asked what he thought about the veterans and the ceremony, Titus said, “Good.”To learn more, go to marionfl.org
Support community journalism
The first goal of the Ocala Gazette is to deliver trustworthy local journalism so corruption, misinformation and abuse are not hidden from the public or unchallenged.
