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Veterans honored in VFW ceremony

By Staff | Nov 15, 2011

Raising the flag at Lehigh’s VFW Veterans Day ceremony

A large crowd of more than 85 people turned out on Veterans Day to mark the occasion put on by the VFW Post 4174 of Lehigh Acres. The 40-minute ceremony was held at Veterans Park on Homestead Rd. and was one of the more impressive celebrations of Veterans Day ever held at the park.

Dan Slaze of the VFW with microphone in hand walked around, away from the outside stage, and described the ceremony as a typical day at what he called “Camp Patriotism.”

He explained what was taking place and said those who had served in the military would well remember the sights. He commanded the Color Guard in full uniform too take the American flag to one side of the outside stage for a flag raising ceremony.

Even though Veterans Day has been set aside to honor veterans and Memorial Day honors the war dead, Slaze called for the American flag to fly at half-mast for a few moments in silent in honor for those who have died in Afghanistan and Iraq. Then the flag was raised. Old Glory waved in a cool brisk wind.

The large crowd stood up and recited the Pledge of Allegiance with many of the youngsters in the crowd being called forward by Slaze to lead in the pledge.

Color Guard marches with flags

Chaplain Ron Freeman offered an opening prayer and also gave the benediction at the end of the ceremony.

VFW Post 4174 Commander Les Waide came to the microphone and told the crowd that he was not going to deliver a speech, but read a prayer given by President Franklin Roosevelt on D-Day.

This is the prayer originally titled “Let Our Hearts Be Stout” written by Roosevelt as Allied troops were invading German-occupied Europe during World War II. The prayer was read to the nation on radio on the evening of D-Day, June 6, 1944, while American, British and Canadian troops were fighting to establish five beach heads on the coast of Normandy in northern France.

The previous night, June 5, Roosevelt had also been on the radio to announce that Allied troops had entered Rome. The spectacular news that Rome had been liberated was quickly superseded by news of the gigantic D-Day invasion which began at 6:30 a.m. on June 6. By midnight, about 57,000 American and 75,000 British and Canadian soldiers had made it ashore, amid losses that included 2,500 killed and 8,500 wounded.

One of the highlights of the prayer included:

Les Waide is commander of the VFW Post 4174

“For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise and tolerance and good will among all Thy people.”

Emily VanPelt of Lehigh Acres sang the National Anthem at the ceremony with patriotic music being played on loud speakers throughout the ceremony.

The song, God Bless The USA, brought people to their feet with a loud applause.

As the ceremony came to an end Dan Slaze said the flag would be lowered as it is each day on any military installation. The ceremony followed with a three-gun salute and the sound of Taps played by Robert E. Day.

Afterwards, veterans were invited to a free luncheon at the VFW Home. Guests were welcome for a $3 fee to dine with the veterans.

Emily VanPelt of Lehigh Acres sings the National Anthem

The VFW program offered a message to the crowd that read:

“We dedicate today’s ceremony to all of our young men and women who find themselves far away from home in strange lands fighting an enemy that not only wants to kill them but to destroy our nation and our entire way of life. Their dedication to defending our nation must be acknowledged in the loudest of voices.”

Children lead in the Pledge of Allegiance

Veterans honored in VFW ceremony

By Staff | Nov 15, 2011

Raising the flag at Lehigh’s VFW Veterans Day ceremony

A large crowd of more than 85 people turned out on Veterans Day to mark the occasion put on by the VFW Post 4174 of Lehigh Acres. The 40-minute ceremony was held at Veterans Park on Homestead Rd. and was one of the more impressive celebrations of Veterans Day ever held at the park.

Dan Slaze of the VFW with microphone in hand walked around, away from the outside stage, and described the ceremony as a typical day at what he called “Camp Patriotism.”

He explained what was taking place and said those who had served in the military would well remember the sights. He commanded the Color Guard in full uniform too take the American flag to one side of the outside stage for a flag raising ceremony.

Even though Veterans Day has been set aside to honor veterans and Memorial Day honors the war dead, Slaze called for the American flag to fly at half-mast for a few moments in silent in honor for those who have died in Afghanistan and Iraq. Then the flag was raised. Old Glory waved in a cool brisk wind.

The large crowd stood up and recited the Pledge of Allegiance with many of the youngsters in the crowd being called forward by Slaze to lead in the pledge.

Color Guard march with flags

Chaplain Ron Freeman offered an opening prayer and also gave the benediction at the end of the ceremony.

VFW Post 4174 Commander Les Waide came to the microphone and told the crowd that he was not going to deliver a speech, but read a prayer given by President Franklin Roosevelt on D-Day.

This is the prayer originally titled “Let Our Hearts Be Stout” written by Roosevelt as Allied troops were invading German-occupied Europe during World War II. The prayer was read to the nation on radio on the evening of D-Day, June 6, 1944, while American, British and Canadian troops were fighting to establish five beach heads on the coast of Normandy in northern France.

The previous night, June 5, Roosevelt had also been on the radio to announce that Allied troops had entered Rome. The spectacular news that Rome had been liberated was quickly superseded by news of the gigantic D-Day invasion which began at 6:30 a.m. on June 6. By midnight, about 57,000 American and 75,000 British and Canadian soldiers had made it ashore, amid losses that included 2,500 killed and 8,500 wounded.

One of the highlights of the prayer included:

Les Waide is commander of the VFW Post 4174

“For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise and tolerance and good will among all Thy people.”

Emily VanPelt of Lehigh Acres sang the National Anthem at the ceremony with patriotic music being played on loud speakers throughout the ceremony.

The song, God Bless The USA, brought people to their feet with a loud applause.

As the ceremony came to an end Dan Slaze said the flag would be lowered as it is each day on any military installation. The ceremony followed with a three-gun salute and the sound of Taps played by Robert E. Day.

Afterwards, veterans were invited to a free luncheon at the VFW Home. Guests were welcome for a $3 fee to dine with the veterans.

Emily VanPelt of Lehigh Acres sings the National Anthem

The VFW program offered a message to the crowd that read:

“We dedicate today’s ceremony to all of our young men and women who find themselves far away from home in strange lands fighting an enemy that not only wants to kill them but to destroy our nation and our entire way of life. Their dedication to defending our nation must be acknowledged in the loudest of voices.”

Children lead in the Pledge of Allegiance