Veterans and residents observed Veterans Day from Celebration to St. Cloud and points in between.
Friday saw two events. During the day, at the Association of Poinciana Villages Ceremony there was a Presentation of Colors performed by the Polk County Sheriff ’s Honor Guard, followed by guest speakers. Friday night saw the annual Soldier City Veterans Salute Dinner held at the St. Thomas Aquinas Social Hall. The dinner featured two guest speakers: Army veteran and State Representative David Smith from House of Representatives District 38 and Air Force veteran Kurt Schuh, who has been active in passing legislation to support Florida’s veterans and was inducted into the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame last year.
Saturday featured several more events across the county. First thing in the morning, about 50 participants joined the annual St. Cloud First Responders 5k Ruck, starting from the downtown VFW and looping to the lakefront before returning downtown. Proceeds from this ruck honored veterans and supported local organizations. Later that morning, both Kissimmee and Celebration held parades to continue the Veterans Day celebrations.
Saturday evening concluded with the City of Kissimmee’s Dinner with a Veteran at the Chambers Park Community Center.
The first-ever Soldier City Sunday event, sponsored by the new city-sponsored St. Cloud Veterans Council, took place at Veterans’ Park off U.S. 192. The event ran from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. as the rain held off. Soldier City Sunday featured local vendors, live entertainment, and organizations and businesses that provide resources and services to veterans. Sunday’s launch is the first of what will be a new weekly community market and rotating exhibits by various veteran resource providers.
Staying in St. Cloud, a final Veterans Day event was the Osceola County Sheriff ’s Department’s 4th Annual Veterans Appreciation Day Ceremony on Wednesday at the McCormick Research Institute on Rummell Road.