Florida National Cemetery Joint Veterans Committee Holds Emotional Memorial Day Ceremony

By  //  May 31, 2016

Cemetery Has Over 100,000 sites

MajGen James Hartsell, US Marine Corps, PACOM, J00MA was the for the The Florida National Cemetery Joint Veterans Committee sponsored Memorial Day Ceremony at Florida National Cemetery on Monday
Maj. Gen James Hartsell, U.S. Marine Corps, PACOM, J00MA was the guest speaker for the The Florida National Cemetery Joint Veterans Committee sponsored Memorial Day Ceremony at Florida National Cemetery on Monday

BUSHNELL, FLORIDA – The Florida National Cemetery Joint Veterans Committee (JVC) sponsored the annual Memorial Day Ceremony at Florida National Cemetery on Monday and Maj. Gen James Hartsell, U.S. Marine Corps, PACOM, J00MA was the guest speaker for the event.

Steve Jerve of WFLA TV News Channel 8 (Tampa) acted as the Master of Ceremonies. Joseph Harrin lead the Hernando High School Band as they play patriotic music prior to and during the ceremony. The Villages High School Choir performed patriotic songs during the ceremony.

During the playing of Amazing Grace on the bagpipes by John Earl, John Bushell and the Posse from the Pasco County Sheriff’s Department performed the rider less horse routine. South Sumter High School NJROTC lead the audience in the pledge of allegiance and Linda Burnette sang the National Anthem.

Steve Jerve of WFLA TV News Channel 8 (Tampa) acted as the Master of Ceremonies for today's ceremony
Steve Jerve of WFLA TV News Channel 8 (Tampa) acted as the Master of Ceremonies for today’s ceremony

Isaac Bobonis, bugler played Taps. Sumter Correctional Institute Color Guard presented and posted colors and The Sumter Correctional Institute Rifle Team rendered a gun salute. Ye Mystic Air Krewe provided a flyover.

Guests arrived early and enjoy the patriotic and inspirational musical prelude which began shortly before the ceremony.

The Joint Veterans Committee and the Florida National Cemetery extended an invitation to all veterans’ organizations and the general public to take this opportunity to remember and honor the men and women who served and gave so much to protect our great nation. Organizations with colors were invited to participate in the massing of colors at the beginning of the program.

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The Avenue of Flags consisting of approximately 400 flags were on display along the roadways of the cemetery. These flags were donated to the cemetery by the next of kin of deceased veterans and were once draped over the caskets or cremation urns of veterans.

A small American Flag had been placed on each of the graves at Florida National Cemetery which range over 100,000 sites.

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