Beach to honor World War II vets Sunday
World War II veterans will be commemorated with two events on Fort Myers Beach during a national celebration on Sunday, Aug. 14.
The Beach’s inaugural “Keep the Spirit of ’45 Alive” event, which is observed nationwide as the day when World War II ended in 1945, will honor those distinguished members of the armed services with a benefit dinner at Pincher’s Crab Shack at 18100 San Carlos Blvd. and a “Taps Over the Water” ceremony at Crescent Beach Family Park.
Pincher’s will begin accepting WWII vets and families between 2:45 and 4 p.m. The crab shack will be providing a free fish roast with choice of two sides and soft drink to all WWII veterans. Guests will be charged $10 per person for the meal and a free soft drink.
LeeTran’s wheelchair-accessible trolleys will depart from Pincher’s between 4:45-5:45 p.m. for the ceremonies at Crescent Beach Family Park. Rolling Thunder and Moose Riders motorcycle clubs will escort the trolleys to the trolley stop at Times Square, just a few feet from the park’s entrance. The park is equipped with hard-surface paths to further accommodate the handicapped. There will be shade tents, chairs and bottles of cold water to further help make everyone as comfortable as possible.
Although the event is officially set to begin at 6 p.m., the park will feature 1940’s and 1950’s music played by Dave Hall, beginning at 3:30 p.m. VFW Post 10097 will provide the PA system for the music. Once the WWII veterans arrive, local Boy Scouts and The Angels will seat them.
Once the veterans are seated, “Keep the Spirit of ’45 Alive” will have Color Guards from several veterans organizations march into the park. At that time, FMB Mayor Larry Kiker, the master of ceremonies, will welcome all to the event. A chaplain will conduct an opening prayer and lead in the Pledge of Allegiance. FMB Manager Terry Stewart will then be introduced to sing “The Star Spangled Banner.”
The Lee County Sheriff’s Department will perform a fly-over and the FMB Fire & Rescue Department will follow with an aerial Salute to the American Flag.
At 6:15 p.m., Kiker will read the U.S Congress Proclamation Letter (which states the event will be held on the second Sunday of November every year) and introduce certain dignitaries, honored guests and Ret. Col. Thomas Hutchinson to present the Bronze Star to James R. Matlock.
Councilman Joe Kosinski, one of the event coordinators along with Bob Enger and Eryka Appaker, will speak on the significance of Laying of Wreath ceremony being performed by the US Coast Guard officials and escorted by “Wreaths Across America” Flotilla, which will take the wreath out to sea.
A 21-gun salute will be followed by the Bonita Springs (American Legion) Post 303 playing “Taps.”
Once the Color Guards are dismissed, Kosinski will make closing remarks to bring the ceremony to an end. The WWII vets will then be transported back to Pincher’s Crab Shack.
“We’re very excited (to put this event on),” said Kosinski, an Army veteran. “We’ve had everybody pitch in and help out with this event, including Lee County Parks & Recreation, the Town of Fort Myers Beach and several veterans organizations that will participate. We are looking at this to be an annual event and to make it a success.”
There is no assigned parking area at Crescent Beach Family Park, so anyone interested in attending the ceremony may consider parking their vehicles at a park-n-ride and taking a trolley.
“The idea is to keep the spirit alive for the younger generation and ongoing for future generations,” said Vernie Kosinski, Joe’s wife. “It’s so important to “Keep the Spirit of ’45 Alive” for educational reasons and for those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.”
Vernie is extending the invitation out to any World War II veteran who may not know about the event. Some may reside at Shell Point Retirement Community or other nursing homes or assisted living facilities.
If anyone plans to attend the dinner and/or the ceremonies on the beach, please call Eryka at (917) 607-4385 or email spiritof45@yahoo.com for reservations.
More than 400,000 Americans gave their lives in service to their country during World War II.
According to the website, www.spiritof45.org, “Keep the Spirit of ’45 Alive” is a non-profit, non-partisan initiative to preserve the legacy of the men and women of the Greatest Generation so that their example of courage, self-sacrifice, “can-do” attitude and commitment to community can help inspire a renewal of national unity in America at a time when our country once again must come together to meet historic challenges.”
Its goal and initiative is “to establish an annual day of remembrance and national renewal to remind America of the values and accomplishments of the generation who endured the hard times of the Great Depression, fought to defeat the greatest tyranny in history, and then went on to rebuild their shattered world in an unprecedented effort to help assure a better future for both friend and former foe alike.”
The 2011 national event is celebrating its 66th year.