There will always be tears flowing at the Santa Rosa
County Veterans Memorial Plaza in Milton.
In a ceremony marking Veterans Day on Monday, county officials unveiled
the new Wall of Tears, a granite monument with drops of water perpetually
flowing down.
"This monument is for your family members who paid the ultimate price, and
for you as lovers of those family members," Santa Rosa County Commissioner
Don Salter, himself a veteran, told the dozens of people present. Retired
U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Michael L. Ferguson,
North Florida civilian aide to Secretary of the Army Pete Geren, led the
dedication of the new monument.
"As we dedicate this Wall of Tears today, we do not forget that we have
soldiers and infantrymen serving today and dying today who are still
answering the call to duty," Ferguson said. "I would ask each of you to
continue to honor our patriots, not only with this wall, but also with
your prayers, by answering the call to duty and by encouraging others to
answer the call to duty."
The ceremony included the laying of wreaths by the Milton Elks Club,
Veterans of Foreign Wars, AMVETS, U.S. Marine Corps League, American
Legion, Fil-Am Association, Disabled American Veterans and the Fleet
Reserve Association.
The monument was dedicated at a ceremony following the annual Veterans Day
parade through Milton. Those in the parade included military associations,
Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps units from Pace and Milton high
schools, Scouts, the combined Milton and Pace marching bands, fire trucks
and several businesses.
U.S. Marine Col. John S. Walsh, deputy commander of Training Air
Wing Five at Whiting Field Naval Air Station, commended the all-volunteer
American military that is fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, keeping
peace in Bosnia and working with allies in South Korea and Japan, as well
performing other missions around the world.
"Right now, we're the ones who can put power around the world at any time.
That's what your military provides for you," Walsh said. "We are a victim
of our own success. That's why we are fighting ... an insurgency.
Conventionally, nobody can stand toe to toe with our services to this day.
This is what the veterans have brought to us." |
