Community Corner
'Service of Remembrance' Draws Greater Brandon Memorial Day Crowd
The Silvertones from the First Baptist Church of Brandon join R.O.T.C. members, scouts, veterans and other community members to an event in honor of fallen soldiers, at Serenity Meadows Memorial Park off Providence Road.
Songs, shots and more than a few silent tears were shared by Greater Brandonites at the Memorial Day Service of Remembrance at Serenity Meadows Memorial Park off Providence Road in Riverview.
Sitting silently in the back row, the day was full of meaning and bittersweet memories for Rita Joyce of Valrico, whose late husband, John, served in the U.S. Air Force. Her father, Louis Renaud, served in World War I.
“Today is about honoring those people who made the ultimate sacrifice and the many who came back, and still come back, wounded and maimed,” said Joyce, who works for the R.O.T.C. U.S. Air Force Reserve at the University of South Florida.
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"Many of them are just kids,” added Joyce, whose granddaughter serves in the U.S. Army Reserve. “We can never forget these people.”
Commending those who turned out for the May 30 ceremonies, featured speaker Kirk Faryniasz, a retired U.S. Air Force major, said too often the meaning of Memorial Day is forgotten, drowned out in a cacophony of commercialism.
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“Too many people think it’s just a chance for a long weekend to go shopping,” he said.
A crowd of more than 100 family, friends and veterans turned out for the commemoration, which featured:
- Songs from the Silvertones, a singing group from the ,
- A flag-folding demonstration by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8108 of Riverview, the men and ladies auxiliary,
- Presentation of colors by the Riverview High School R.O.T.C.,
- Taps, courtesy of a bugler from the U.S. Marine Corps League Detachment 1226, of Riverview, and the
- Assistance of serving refreshments from members of Girl Scout Troop 601.
Vietnam veterans Charles Ortett, of Seffner, and Bill Farmer, of Riverview, talked about the need for schools to incorporate more lessons on military history.
“They are not really teaching kids anything about wars today,” said Farmer, a U.S. Army veteran, whose father was among those who parachuted into Normandy on D-Day in World War II.
Ortett helps teach an elective course at Hillsborough County High Schools on the Vietnam War and is encouraged by the number of youngsters who sign up.
“The schools have no problems getting 15-16 kids for that class,” he said.
Recalling his own memories of Memorial Day parades in Vermont, Faryniasz encouraged the audience to consider the real meaning of the national holiday and to share it with their neighbors.
“Put out your flags,” he said. "Perhaps a neighbor will asked why you are doing it. Maybe invite them to this ceremony next year. Sadly too many have forgotten the meaning of Memorial Day which reminds us of our past and out present.”
Faryniasz punctuated his remarks with the reading of “It is the Soldier,” a poem whose copyright is claimed by Charles M. Province, a veteran of the U.S. Army and founder and president of the George S. Patton, Jr. Historical Society.
It is the Soldier, not the minister
Who has given us freedom of religion.
It is The Soldier, not the reporter,
Who has given us Freedom of the press.
It is The Soldier, not the poet,
Who has given us Freedom of speech.
It is The Soldier, not the campus organizer,
Who has given us Freedom to demonstrate.
It is The Soldier, not the lawyer,
Who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the Soldier, not the politician
Who has given us the right to vote.
It is The Soldier who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag and
Whose coffin is draped by the flag
Who allows the protester to burn the flag.
