HILLSBOROUGH Ceremonies
Veterans Memorial Park and Museum, 3602 U.S. 301 N., Tampa; (813) 310-8513. 11 a.m. The Veterans Council of Hillsborough County will offer hot dogs and drinks, military drill demonstrations and museum tours.
PINELLAS
Bay Pines VA Medical Center, 10000 Bay Pines Blvd., Bay Pines; (727) 398-9531; 10 a.m. The program will feature speakers including Capt. Todd Sokalzuk, commanding officer of the Coast Guard Air Station, Clearwater, and state Rep. Janet C. Long.
Lake St. George Elementary School, 2855 County Road 95, Palm Harbor; (727) 669-1161; 9 a.m., Veterans Day parade and celebration.
Veterans Memorial Park, 250 Shore Drive E Oldsmar; (813) 749-1260; 11 a.m., Oldsmar’s annual Veterans Day Ceremony featuring Mayor Jim Ronecker, City Council members, a keynote speaker and an Air Force color guard.
Largo Central Park, 101 Central Park Drive; www.largoevents.com; 7 p.m., ceremony will include special music, keynote speaker and color guard.
Veterans Park, next to Safety Harbor Marina, 400 Veterans Memorial Way; (727) 724-1572, 11 a.m.; the event will include the posting of the colors, a 21-gun salute, a wreath toss and patriotic songs by the Espiritu Santo Elementary School chorus. American Legion Post 238 will have a holiday card drive for soldiers and encourages visitors to bring cards for military members serving overseas.
PASCO
VFW Post 10167, 4619 Bartelt Road, Holiday; (727) 938-5977, 11 a.m. The public may bring old, damaged flags for proper disposal.
HERNANDO
The Florida National Cemetery, 6502 SW 102nd Ave., off Interstate 75, Exit 309, south of Bushnell; (352) 793-7740; 11 a.m. The speaker will be Rear Adm. LeRoy Collins Jr., executive director of the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs. The Florida National Guard will provide the gun salute and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8681 of Shady Hills will post the colors. Limited seating. Visitors are encouraged to arrive early and bring lawn chairs or blankets. The cemetery’s visitor center will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9236, 3435 Shoal Line Blvd., Hernando Beach; (352) 596-9236; 11 a.m. Post members and Ladies Auxiliary will recognize veterans with a ceremony. The speaker will be retired Maj. Gen. M.T. Smith of the U.S. Air Force.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8713, Tangerine Cove Nursing Home on Howell Avenue, Brooksville; (352) 796-4449, 11 a.m. Post members and Ladies Auxiliary will observe Veterans Day with a service and flag presentation. Baskets of needed items will be given to the veterans at the home.
SUMTER
The Florida National Cemetery, 6502 SW 102nd Ave., off Interstate 75, Exit 309, south of Bushnell; (352) 793-7740; 11 a.m. The speaker will be Rear Adm. LeRoy Collins Jr., executive director of the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs. Limited seating. Visitors are encouraged to arrive early and bring lawn chairs or blankets. The cemetery’s visitor center will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
St. Petersburg Times