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Veterans Garden Dedicated

Avon Park ‘Triangle’ Will Honor Vets

Kathy Waters/Highlands Today

From left: Francesca DiMeglio and Shana Riley listen to the guest speakers speak Monday at the dedication ceremony of Southside Veterans Garden. The dedication was in conjunction with Memorial Day.

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By MARC VALERO | Highlands Today

Published: May 27, 2008

AVON PARK — The area known as the triangle in Avon Park officially became a location of pride and reverence Monday morning with the dedication of the Southside Veterans Garden.

"This has been a project that we have been working on for approximately two years," said Southside CRA Chairwoman Shirley Johnson. "We are so proud to be opening and dedicating this garden today to all the men and women that serve in the armed forces."

City councilwoman and retired veteran Brenda Gray said Deloris Shawn Blackman started the effort to create the garden at the triangle.

Speaking to the gathering at the dedication ceremony, Gray said Memorial Day is the most important national patriotic observation in the United States.

"This is a day of mixed emotions, for reflection, and to honor all soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen who have made the ultimate sacrifice throughout our history. This is a day of personal pride for those who have lost loved ones in uniform.

"But, it is also a day for the nation to mourn, to show our collective national pride. We honor those brave warriors, but we have not forgotten them. We honor them by not taking for granted what they did for us."

Veterans Lester Roberts and Mark Manley assisted Army National Guard Command Sgt. Maj. Kevin Turner with the raising of the American Flag.

Manley performed "America the Beautiful" on the bagpipes as the flag was raised and then with the lowering of the flag to half-staff he performed "Taps."

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