Veterans Day 2019 In Pinellas County: Awards, Music, Kites

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — Veterans Day gives Americans the opportunity to celebrate the bravery and sacrifice of all U.S. veterans. However, most Americans confuse this holiday with Memorial Day, reports the Department of Veterans Affairs.

What's more, some Americans don't know why veterans are honored on Nov. 11.

Veterans Day, formerly known as Armistice Day, was originally set as a U.S. legal holiday to honor the end of World War I, which officially took place on Nov. 11, 1918. In legislation that was passed in 1938, Nov. 11 was "dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as 'Armistice Day.'" As such, this new legal holiday honored World War I veterans.
In 1954, after having been through both World War II and the Korean War, the 83rd U.S. Congress -- at the urging of the veterans service organizations -- amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting the word "Veterans." With the approval of this legislation, Nov. 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

If the Nov. 11 holiday falls on a non-workday -- Saturday or Sunday -- the holiday is observed by the federal government on Monday (if the holiday falls on Sunday) or Friday (if the holiday falls on Saturday). Federal government closings are established by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. State and local government closings are determined locally and non- government businesses can close or remain open as they see fit, regardless of federal, state or local government operation determinations.

Each May, Memorial Day honors service members who died in service to their country or as a result of injuries incurred during battle. Deceased veterans are also remembered on Veterans Day but the day is set aside to thank and honor living veterans who served honorably in the military - in wartime or peacetime.

St. Petersburg 6th Annual Veterans Day Celebration

Mayor Rick Kriseman will present the Honored Veteran Award to an outstanding local veteran during the sixth annual Veterans Day Celebration Monday, Nov. 11 at 8 a.m. at Williams Park Veterans Memorial, 330 2nd Ave. N., St. Petersburg.

This year's Honored Veteran Award will be presented to retired Army Lt. Col. Geoff Barker, a decorated veteran and author. Barker retired from active duty from the U.S. Army Special Forces at Fort Bragg as a lieutenant dolonel and was promoted to dolonel in the North Carolina Guard.

He relocated to Florida in 1989 to support the newly created U.S. Special Operations Command at MacDill Air Force Base, where he devoted 25 years of service to the Special Operations Memorial Foundation and more than 60 years of service to Special Operations Forces.

Previous Honored Veterans are: 2018: Maxine Cardinal Wehry; 2017: Carrie W. Nero and Charles Claybaker; 2016: Michael Jernigan; 2015: Willie Rodgers; and 2014: Herbert Polson.

Madeira Beach hosted its annual Veterans Day Boat Parade Saturday.

City Of Largo To Honor Veterans

The City of Largo will host a free Veterans Day event Monday, Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. at Central Park, 101 Central Park Drive, Largo.

The city will award its Barbara Bush Citizen Patriot award to Sheila Mustacio and Lt. Col. Carol Barkalow of Heaven on Earth for Veterans Inc. Current City of Largo employees who are veterans will also receive eagle trophies to honor their service.

The ceremony at the Military Court of Honor in Largo Central Park will include a musical tribute, presentations and a keynote speaker.

Veterans Day School Assemblies

Curtis Fundamental Elementary School, 531 Beltrees St., Dunedin, will host a Veterans Day assembly Monday at 8:15 a.m., featuring a 101-year-old World War II veteran.

Gulf Beaches Elementary School, 8600 Boca Ciega Drive, St. Petersburg, will host a Veterans Day assembly Monday at 8:45 a.m. There will be firetrucks, community members and speeches by student council presidents. The ROTC from Boca Ciega High School will assist with raising the flag.

Clearwater Veterans Day Celebration

The Tampa Bay Veterans Alliance will host its annual Veterans Day Celebration on Monday, Nov. 11 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Crest Lake Park Memorial Plaza, 201 S. Glenwood Ave., Clearwater.

The ceremony is an opportunity to celebrate and remember all veterans who have served country.

Oldsmar Veterans Day Celebration

The City of Oldsmar will host its annual Veterans Day Celebration Monday, Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Park, 250 Shore Drive E., Oldsmar.

The event will feature keynote speaker, retired U.S. Army Col. Mike McCalister, and will include a roll call of the newly engraved veterans' names on the Memorial Wall. Light refreshments will follow the ceremony.

7th Annual Veterans Day Fall Fly

The Veterans Day Fall Fly on Treasure Island will continue Nov. 11 on Treasure Island Beach behind the Thunderbird Beach Resort, 10700 Gulf Blvd.

This free, family-oriented event will feature general kite flying, kite games, stunt kite lessons, demos, bubbles and candy falling from the sky.

There is no formal competition, however, the event is geared to prep novice kite flyers of all ages to learn what competition is like for the big official competition Jan. 19-20.

Public parking will be available in the public lot across the street from the Waffle House on Gulf Boulevard and at 104th Avenue and Gulf Boulevard.

The festival is sponsored by Windworks, the City of Treasure Island and The Thunderbird Beach Resort.

Windworks will be on the beach selling kites, line, wind toys and hosting raffles and a silent auction.

Bay Pines Veterans Day Ceremony

The Bay Pines Veterans Administration Healthcare System will host its annual Veterans Day ceremony Monday, Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. in the courtyard between buildings 2 and 37 at the C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center Campus, 10000 Bay Pines Blvd., St. Petersburg.

The event will include musical performances by children of the Keswick Christian School, a special parade of colors provided by local veterans service organizations, traditional military presentations and a firing salute by the MacDill Air Force Base Color Guard.

The keynote speaker will be retired U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Mike DeLancey.

DeLancey completed tours in Afghanistan and Iraq and is a Purple Heart recipient. He has also received service campaign medals and military awards for his participation in Iraq and Afghanistan and was decorated with the NATO Medal in 2015. He is the founder of the Wounded Warriors Abilities Ranch in Pinellas Park.