Ocala-Marion County Veterans Memorial Park hosts annual service

On May 27, the Ocala-Marion County Veteran’s Memorial Park held its annual Memorial Day ceremony to honor the brave men and women who lost their lives in service of the nation. Members of every branch of the armed services were remembered for their ultimate sacrifice.

For civilians and veterans alike, Memorial Day is a time for many to give thanks to the soldiers who gave their lives to protect our country and freedoms. These soldiers come from all backgrounds, creeds, and even time periods, but all fought for a single, solemn purpose.

The annual event was led this year by several public speakers, each sharing the stories of their own experiences in the armed services, or the experiences of their loved ones. Not only were the fallen remembered, but so too were five surviving veterans of World War II and the Korean War.

Presented with an Award of Appreciation were Howard Mautner, a U.S. Army Air Corps veteran who fought during World War II. Mautner celebrated his 100^th birthday in April. The U.S. Army Air Corps existed until 1947, and would later become a separate military branch, the United States Air Force, following World War II.

Also recognized was Ralph Mueller, an Air Force veteran who served during the Korean War. During his recognition, he played his harmonica for the crowd. The other men were Robert Anderson, a World War II veteran, Alfred Merrill, and Walter Lane. The latter two men were both veterans of the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. Each of the men wore a poppy flower lapel. The flower is a traditional symbol of military remembrance.

County Commissioners Kathy Bryant, Matt McClain, and Michelle Stone, along with Sheriff Billy Woods and VA administrator Charles Whitehead, were in attendance to present each of these honors.

The keynote speaker was Col. (ret.) Janet Horton, Chaplain. Horton was only the third woman chaplain in U.S. Army history. Her career began in 1976 and lasted for 28 years until her retirement. In 1979, Horton successfully campaigned to allow women to wear pants as part of their army uniforms. Until then, women were required to wear skirts as part of their uniform. In 2001, she was a first responder at the Pentagon during the September 11 attacks.

Among the other speakers were Jeffery Askew, the director of Veterans Services for the Marion County BCC, and Col. (ret.) Craig Ham, president of the Marion County Veterans Council.

In addition to the public speakers, a number of Ocala-area families were honored as their loved ones were memorialized for their service. The lives of soldiers serving in every major conflict were remembered, from past wars to more recent conflicts such as wars in the Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Marion County Honor Guard presented colors and a rifle salute in honor of the fallen troops. The Kingdom of the Sun Concert Band played patriotic songs in between speakers, such as “God Bless America,” the “Star-Spangled Banner,” and the “Army Goes Rolling Along,” among others.

The Ocala-Marion County Veterans Memorial Park is located at 2601 E. Fort King St., Ocala. To learn more, go to the county’s website at marionfl.org or the Friends of Marion County Veterans Park Foundation site at marionvetpark.com