STORIES OF SERVICE: Erdman Automotive in Cocoa Holds Very Special Memorial Day Ceremony

WATCH LIVE ON SPACE COAST DAILY TV

WATCH: A very special Memorial Day Ceremony from Erdman Automotive on State Road 520 in Cocoa, is covered by the Friday Night Locker Room’s Orville Susong and Steve Wilson. Speakers include SFC James “JJ “Justice, U.S. Army (Ret.), Rear Admiral Wayne Justice, U.S. Coast Guard (Ret.), LTC Tim Thomas, U.S. Army (Ret.), and Donn Weaver Former U.S. Army captain. Dr. Michael Cadore delivered the invocation and the U.S. Naval Sea Cadets Color Guard, Courageous Division, Veterans Memorial Center, presented the Colors.

The event was live-streamed on Space Coast Daily by the Friday Night Locker Room’s Orville Susong and Steve Wilson

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Erdman Automotive in Cocoa held a very special Memorial Day Ceremony on Friday at their dealership on State Road 520 in Cocoa. The ceremony was held on Friday so as not to conflict with those scheduled for Monday.

The ceremony featured four outstanding speakers, including James “JJ” Justice, Wayne Justice, Tim Thomas and Donn Weaver.

JJ Justice is a retired Sgt. First Class in the U.S. Army and is past president of Rolling Thunder Florida Chapter 1. Rolling Thunder is dedicated to raising awareness of the POW*MIA issue and acknowledging veterans of all wars for their service and sacrifices made.

Wayne Justice is a retired Rear Admiral in the U.S. Coast Guard. Rear Admiral Justice attended the Coast Guard Academy and is a Naval War College graduate.

He spent 37 years in the Coast Guard, with 15 of those assigned in Florida.  Rear Admiral Justice had 12 years on cutters, specializing in counter drug, illegal immigrant, and search and rescue patrols. He is currently a maritime consultant and a Port Commissioner, representing District 3.

Tim Thomas is a retired Lt. Col. in the U.S. Army. Col. Thomas served in the Army for 23 years, holding many key leadership positions at the Division, Corps and Department of Defense level.

He served two combat tours in Iraq and is one of a few Americans allowed access into North Korea. In 1998, his Search and Recovery Team was allowed into North Korea where they recovered and repatriated the remains of nine Army soldiers who were killed during the Korean War.

Col. Thomas’ decorations include the Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (with 2 OLCs), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (with 2 OLCs), as well as Airborne and Air Assault badges.

Donn Weaver is a former Captain in the U.S. Army. He grew up on the Space Coast and served in the U.S. Army from 1968 until 1972. Weaver served along the DMZ in Korea and spent over 40 years in the U.S. Foreign Service, living abroad in nine countries for almost 22 of those years.

Weaver and his wife returned to Cocoa Beach in 2014. He leads many Veteran Projects in Brevard County and is currently the Veterans Memorial Center Council Chairman and President of the Good Deeds Foundation of the Cape Canaveral Chapter of MOAA.

The event was live-streamed on Space Coast Daily by the Friday Night Locker Room’s Orville Susong and Steve Wilson.

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