As the nation preps for the onset of summer festivities, Hillsborough County is bringing the community together for a moment of somber reflection and honor. According to an announcement on the county's official website, Hillsborough County Consumer & Veterans Services alongside the Veterans Council of Hillsborough County have planned the 28th annual Memorial Day Observance. Set for May 25, Veterans Memorial Park & Rear Admiral LeRoy Collins, Jr. Veterans Museum will serve as the gathering ground, located at 3602 U.S. Hwy. 301 N., Tampa, FL 33619.
Greeting attendees with an American flag that towers more than 150 feet above the park's entrance, the event stands as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by military service members. Those who made the ultimate sacrifice will be remembered through various tributes, including the touching "Garden of Gold" flags that bear the names and faces of local Gold Star Family members. Scheduled to feature prominently in the day's proceedings are Col. Jeff J. Mrazik of the 6th Operations Group, MacDill Air Force Base, and retired U.S. Army Col. Alfred "Al" Carter, now serving as Chief of Staff for the Florida Department of Veteran Affairs, as per Hillsborough County.
The commemoration will also include a respectful addition of new tributes within the "Garden of Gold," alongside a ceremonial rifle salute and the mournful playing of taps by the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC). Aside from the solemnities, military families and veterans will have access to on-site resources intended to support them. Following the ceremony, attendees are encouraged to partake in refreshments and to visit the various monuments within the park that pay homage to the bravery and sacrifices of American service members. With its gates open daily, Veterans Memorial Park invites visitors to explore its grounds and exhibits from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., with free admission and parking, as per Hillsborough County.
