Saturday was long planned as the date for the second annual Veterans Art Show at the McCormick Institute. However, fate intervened about one week out when the veteran community was informed Marine veteran John Snider, born in 1946, was going to be buried the same morning in Mount Peace Cemetery. He had passed away without any family or close friends to see him off.
Kicking into action was Marine veteran, hospice nurse, and pastor Ian Perry of St. Cloud’s Church of God. An invitation to honor Snider went out to veteran and patriotic organizations across Osceola County and beyond. Arrangements were made for a proper military funeral. Fisk Funeral Home donated a U.S. flag, veteran riders planned the motorcycle escort for the remains and the Osceola County Veterans Council committed to providing their honor guard to perform a 21gun salute and play “Taps.”
By the start of the 11 a.m. memorial service Saturday, over 100 people had assembled as Mr. Snider’s ashes were placed into a columbarium vault nestled amid the stately, sunlit oak trees in the cemetery. In Pastor Perry’s remarks, he noted several times how the veteran communities’ actions on this occasion had embodied the religious and military commitment of “I am my brother’s keeper.” The flag used in the ceremony will be displayed at the Marine Corps Leage in Orlando, with the small amount of information known about Mr. Snider, so that he will never be forgotten.
After the brief memorial service, many participants made their way to the McCormick Research Institute’s location to attend the Veteran Art Show. About a dozen art and craft vendors were on hand, along with food vendors and an open mic for entertainers. Several veterans resource organizations, including the Florida Department of Veteran Affairs, also had exhibits at the show.
The proceeds of the event help fund the Institute’s veteran-related activities, including the Horses for Heroes equine therapy program. For more information see https://bit.ly/3woilA8.
