Phantom Airborn Brigade To Start Today's Memorial Day Celebration

The Veterans Council of Hillsborough County will hold a Memorial Day Ceremony at the Veterans Memorial Park and Rear Admiral LeRoy Collins Jr. Museum, but the ceremony to dedicate the American Eagle Monument near the entrance to the park has been cancelled.

That dedication is expected to take place at a future date.

Meanwhile, the Memorial Day celebration in Tampa today, May 27, at 602 U.S. Highway 301 North, is set to begin at 10:55 a.m., with a kick-off featuring two members of the Phantom Airborne Brigade.

They are scheduled to parachute into the park carrying both the American flag and the POW/MIA flag, for prisoners of war and soldiers missing in action. The black flag with white lettering bears the promise: "You will never be forgotten."

Colors will be presented by the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) Color Guard from the MacDill Air Force Base.

The Scottish American Military Society will conduct the POW/MIA "Empty Chair Remembrance Celebration." A wreath will be presented honoring Hillsborough County's fallen warriors.

• The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office has established a permanent online memorial for those who lost their lives in service to the country since the terrorist attacks of 2001. The site, last updated May 25, names 51 soldiers.

The keynote speaker will be Brigadier General Charles Q. Brown Jr., deputy director of operations at CENTCOM.

Refreshments will be served following the ceremony.