The City’s Veterans Day Celebration held on November 11th was very important to many of our residents. Amazingly, our City still has many active World War II Veterans residing here. We see them in the grocery store, participating in City programs, events, and taking classes at Pelican Community Park. What a privilege for us to share time with them.
All of the veterans placed on the Heritage Wall in the last four years received a special invite to return for this year’s event. A large number of veterans did attend and expressed their appreciation for the recognition they received. Veterans, new to the wall and previous honorees, had their names announced by former SIB Commissioner Gerry Goodman, a WWII Veteran. After the ceremony veterans expressed their appreciation, “the ceremony was beautifully done and it was an honor to be remembered.”
Each veteran present also received a star from a retired American Flag with the verse: “I am part of our American Flag. I have flown over a home in the U.S.A. but I can no longer fly. The sun and wind have caused me to become tattered and torn. Please carry me as a reminder that YOU are not forgotten.” These stars are provided to the City by The Major Stuart Adam Wolfer Institute.
The Institute, named for Major Wolfer who was killed in action April 6, 2008 in Baghdad, Iraq, sends care packages, phones and stars to active duty members overseas. For more information about their mission, go to www.msawi.org. The City of Sunny Isles Beach is looking for veterans, both men and women, who live in or have lived in the City and would like their names added to the Veterans Wall. You can nominate yourself; wives can nominate husbands, husbands can nominate wives, or sons or daughters can nominate mothers and fathers. If your relative lived here, but has since passed away, he or she may be nominated in memoriam with presentation of the appropriate paperwork. Applications may be picked up at the reception desks of the Sunny Isles Beach Government Center or Pelican Community Park.
Applications may also be downloaded from www.sibfl.net. Next year on November 11th at Heritage Park, all veterans will again be recognized and additional names placed on the wall. The deadline for application is September 1st each year. Let’s get some ladies who are military veterans on the wall next year. We would love to have your names included on the wall along with the guys.
For questions call Cultural and Community Services at 305-792-1706.
