Photos for Headline Surfer / ABOVE: Port Orange Mayor Don Burnette leads the Memorial Day remembrance on Monday, May 29, 2022, at Veteran's Park, Port Orange, Florida. A special part of the ceremony was the dedication of the POW-MIA missing man chair of honor. AT LEFT: Dozens of Port Orange residents attended the mid-morning ceremony to honor loved ones who have perished in past wars. BELOW: Military veterans attending the ceremony...
By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer
PORT ORANGE, Fla. -- There was a one-word common denominator echoed by those who attended Memorial Day remembrance in Port Orange: Beautiful.
It was a beautiful morning, and it made me proud of our city," Kim Short said.
Susie Weatherly described it as a "beautiful ceremony and tribute."
Such a beautiful ceremony honoring those to whom honor is due, Kat O'Connor Atwood added.
Port Orange Mayor Don Burnette was stoic in leading the annual Memorial Day Ceremony at Veteran's Park, located in City Center Park, on Monday morning in front of dozens of patriotic residents.
"On this day of remembrance, we owe a great debt to those who gave all for our freedom," Burnette said.
Port Orange Mayor Don Burnette was stoic in leading the annual Memorial Day Ceremony at Veteran's Park, located in City Center Park, on Monday morning in front of dozens of patriotic residents.
"On this day of remembrance, we owe a great debt to those who gave all for our freedom," Burnette said.
"It is our obligation to honor them each day by using our freedom to make good choices that build our community up, not tear it down," The Port Orange mayor continued. "Otherwise, their sacrifices were made in vain."
Burnette offered thanks to VFW Post 3282 and the Knights of Columbus for putting on a great and honor-filled ceremony. A special mention to Rich Malfatano of Rolling Thunder for making the dedication of the POW-MIA missing man chair of honor dedication possible on this sunny Central Florida morning.
It is a reminder that we owe it to those who gave their all for our freedom to live our lives the best we can in service to one another in God’s peace," Burnette said of the missing chair dedication.
Port Orange resident Cathe Carr summed up the sentiments of the crowd stating it was "a beautiful ceremony," as she thanked Maor Burnette for his "heartfelt message this morning."
About the Byline Writer: Henry Frederick is a member of the working press and publisher of Headline Surfer, the award-winning 24/7 internet news outlet launched in 2008, that serves greater Daytona Beach, Sanford & Orlando from Lake Mary, Florida via HeadlineSurfer.com. Frederick has amassed close to 150 award-winning bylines in print & online. He earned his Master of Arts in New Media Journalism from Full Sail University in 2019. He was a breaking news reporter (metro cops & courts beat) for the Daytona Beach News-Journal for nearly a decade. And Before that worked the same beat for The Journal-News/Gannett Suburban Newspapers in Rockland/Westchester counties, NY, dating back to 1989. Having witnessed the execution of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Florida's death chamber and covering other high profile cases, Frederick has appeared on national crime documentary shows on Discovery ID, Reelz, and the Oxygen Network series "Snapped" for his analysis. • Award-Winning Journalism: Florida Press Club recognizes Headline Surfer for nine stories in 2020 statewide competition. • Award-Winning Journalism of Henry Frederick.