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Veterans honored
in Garden Club Dedication
Many came to the Blue Star Memorial
Marker - Lester Park Freedom Garden Dedication to honor the veterans
of Dade City. From US Congresswoman Ginny Brown-Waite to the Pasco
High School Band, to the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs' (FFGC)
President, Joan Ochs, to Immediate Past President Joan Pryor, and District
Director, Sue Angle, to Pasco County Commissioner Pat Mulieri and Dade
City Commissioners Scott Black and Camille Hernandez, to the Pasco High
School NJROTDC Color Guard, to the Pastor of the First Baptist Church
in Dade City, Dr. Ed Kuffel, to nationally known soloist, Lill Anderson
and her husband, DuaneĀ
..they all came and duly honored the many veterans
who were present for the ceremony. Congresswoman Brown-Waite made
a special trip from Washington to be present to deliver her "Patriotic
Remarks" to the veterans and the public. There was no doubt
as to her respect and loyalties when it came to our veterans.
The ceremony, held on Friday,
March 2, was planned by the Dade City Garden Club to commemorate the
installation of the Blue Star Memorial Marker, which is a project of
the National Garden Clubs to honor all those who have served in the
defense of our country. The marker has been placed in Lester Park
on US 301 in Dade City. The ceremony also was to recognize the
installation of the newly planted Freedom Garden in honor of Battery
B, 2nd Battallion, 116th FA, the local National Guard unit
that recently returned from a deployment in Afghanistan. SSC Shawn McCabe
was present to accept the dedication of the Freedom Garden, which is
a demonstration garden of "Florida Friendly" plants, and the planting of the Freedom Tree in the garden.
Shown at the Blue Star Marker after the ceremony are: Pat Carver, chairman of the Blue Star Memorial Marker Dedication;
Sally
Redden, Co-Chairman of refreshments; Joan Pryor, Immediate Past President
of the
Florida Federation of Garden Clubs (FFGC) and member of the Dade City
Garden Club; Joan Ochs, President of FFGC and her husband, Bob Ochs,
one of the
veterans present.
Theresa Frese, Vice-President
of the Dade City Garden Club, presided at the beginning of the ceremony
and welcomed the guests and the honorees. FFGC President, Joan
Ochs, presented the local club with a certificate from the National
Garden Club President in recognition of the dedication of the Blue Star
Marker. District Director, Sue Angle, told of the History of the
Blue Star Marker, which was started by Garden Club members after World
War II. Joan Pryor, Immediate Past President of FFGC and a member
of the Dade City Garden Club dedicated the marker, and Pennie Jefferson,
Vice-President of the Dade City Garden Club, dedicated the Freedom Garden
and the Freedom Tree to Battery B, 2nd Battallion, 116th FA. Special guests present were members of the Lester family who
donated the property to the garden club. Along with Mrs Hazel
Lester, were her daughters, Glenda Lester and Libby Lester Blommel and
her husband, Ed.
The highlight of the program
came with the recognition of all of the veterans present. The World
War II veterans came to the stage and told their name and an experience
that they were willing to share. Then all of the other veterans
present came to the front. There was not a dry eye in the room. Also,
participating in the ceremony were Dale Johnson, Commander, American
Legion Post 15 and John Heufel, Chaplain, Veterans of Foreign Wars,
Post 4283. Those veterans present who signed in were: Shawn J.
McCabe, Dale E. Johnson, Tom Graef, Trevor Gray, Stuart Howell, William
E. Diener, Duane Anderson, James Lavender, Jackson C. Johnson, Garron
Weitzel, Bill Dennis, Bob Ochs, Jarrill Riley, Phillip Crisp, Ronald
Gunn, Dr. Milton Jones, Ray Angle, Bob Casper, Mark S. Davis, Bob
Hogan,
Chad K. Johns, George Marquis, Omer Sutherland, Frank Johnson, Edward
Flores, Bo Bozeman, John H. Heufel, Jr. and L G Bell. Others were
in attendance, but did not register at the door.
Pictured in the attachment is Scott Black, Dade City
Commissioner who
presented a proclamation to the
Dade City Garden Club.
The ceremony, originally planned
to take place in Lester Park, was moved to the American Legion Hall
at the last minute due to gusty winds and rain. City Manager,
Harold Sample and the City Parks Crew made the adjustment possible and
everything went as though it had been planned for the American Legion
Hall. After the ceremony, the refreshments were served by garden club hostesses, Vickie West and Sally Redden. Some guests
were able to go by Lester Park to see the garden and the marker when
it was all over. Chairman of the Blue Star Dedication Program,
Pat Carver, was so appreciative to those who helped make the last minute
transition in location, to all of those who participated in the program
and to those who came to make the dedication such a special event for
the veterans. It truly was a memorable occasion.
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