More than 300 people gave a warm welcome Tuesday evening to 70 Marine reservists returning home after a seven-month tour of duty in Iraq. As they stepped off the buses that pulled into the Marine Reserve Training Center on Gandy Boulevard, the troops of the 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion were met with waving American flags, shouts and embraces from their loved ones. "Coming home to your family is the greatest thing in the world," said Sgt. Richard Wester of Orlando. The Marines conducted counter-insurgency operations in Iraq and provided base security in Anbar province. The battalion had no casualties during the tour. ...more

November 26, 2008

The cheering began as soon as the buses came into view. ...more

November 25, 2008

LAND O' LAKES - As landmarks go, the homely red block barn with its face smashed up against U.S. 41's northbound lanes may not look like much. But in the recent history of Land O' Lakes and Pasco County, the global headquarters of Hungry Harry's Famous Bar-B-Que fits neatly between the Old North Church and (appropriately, as we shall see) Wright's Tavern. ...more

November 19, 2008

Hundreds brought their kids and lawn chairs or sat in the beds of pickups and SUVs, waving tiny American flags. Others stood curbside and clapped as dozens of floats and marchers passed. They were celebrating Veterans Day. ...more

November 19, 2008

Rules that govern what items of remembrance can adorn gravesites - particularly graves of veterans - may be amended, thanks to an argument over flags around the burial plot of a native son killed in Iraq. ...more

November 15, 2008

Hundreds brought their kids and lawn chairs or sat in the beds of pickups and SUVs, waving tiny American flags. Others stood curbside and clapped as dozens of floats and marchers passed. They were celebrating Veterans Day. "There were more participants this year than ever," said Shirley May, who co-chairs the annual Veterans Day parade committee with her partner, Bruce Scheller. Both represent VFW Memorial Post 6287, the event sponsor. ...more

November 13, 2008

Inverness is rich with military veterans who have chosen this area to retire, perhaps hoist a cold brew at the Eugene Quinn VFW Post 4337. ...more

November 12, 2008

Inverness is rich with military veterans who have chosen this area to retire, fish for lunker bass in the Tsala Apopka chain of lakes, or play golf or hoist a cold brew at the Eugene Quinn VFW Post 4337. ...more

November 11, 2008

Robert Surber was on his second tour of duty in Iraq when a bomb exploded near his vehicle on June 3, 2007. He and three other soldiers died in the blast. ...more

November 10, 2008

A flag ceremony at Pasco-Hernando Community College will help launch observances of Veterans Day. The public is invited to the event at 4:30 p.m. Monday, the afternoon before Veterans Day, Tuesday, Nov. 11, a college spokeswoman, Courtney Boettcher, reports. ...more

November 8, 2008