Viera Hawks Football to Host Military Appreciation Event on Friday Night During Game With Titusville
By Steve Wilson // November 2, 2023
Veterans will be recognized at halftime during a special ceremony
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Viera High School will be hosting their annual Salute to Military Veterans at the Hawks football game on Friday at 7 p.m. as they host the Titusville Terriers.
Principal Heather Legate has invited Veterans and the public to attend, saying, “Viera High School would like to invite all Veterans to attend our November third home game where they will be honored at halftime. As a small token of appreciation for the sacrifices they have made while serving our country, any Veteran who comes to the game will receive free admission.”
Veterans that wish to attend the game will be recognized at halftime during a special ceremony. They will be asked to assemble at the east end zone with seven minutes left in the second quarter.
The half time ceremony will consist of putting Veterans in a formation and marching them between two columns of cadets on the track. While marching between the columns of cadets, the Public Address announcer will be reading a “Salute to Veterans” script.
The ceremony will also consist of a moment of silence for those Veterans that paid the ultimate sacrifice followed by the playing of Taps.
Senior Army Instructor at Viera, LTC (Ret) Tim Thomas, said, “Veterans do so much for us in our communities and we look forward to recognizing them Friday night.”
SFC (Ret) Carl Thomas, an instructor with LTC Thomas, echoed his sentiments, saying, “We look forward to honoring our Veterans Friday night and hope to have a great crowd.”
Space Coast Daily’s Juan Rodriguez and J.C. Meyerholtz will be broadcasting the game live on Space Coast Daily starting at 7:00 p.m.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Steve Wilson was born in DeRidder, Louisiana and grew up in both New Orleans and Macon, Georgia. He moved to Brevard County in 1984 and retired from local government as the Community Advocate/Assistant to the City Manager with the City of Rockledge in 2018.
Among the awards and accolades Steve has received over the years are 15 + year Rockledge Little League volunteer, Brevard Public School Jefferson Award Recipient, Rockledge High School Raider Booster Award 2001, 2006, City of Rockledge Employee of the Year 2006, Rockledge Kiwanian of the Year 2006-2007, City of Rockledge Quality Public Service Award 2008, 2012, 2017, Rockledge Kiwanis Citizen of the Year 2012-2013, Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Sportscasting 2015, Rockledge High School Leadership and Service Award 2016, Central Florida Humanitarian Award 2017, Space Coast Inspiration Award – 2018, Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Lifetime Achievement – 2020 and Ecofest Achievement Award – 2022.
Wilson is especially proud of is chairing two fundraisers in support of pediatric cancer research through the St. Baldrick’s Foundation in honor of Merritt Island resident Julie Spurlock that raised over $25,000.00.
He has been a partner, along with Orville Susong, for the past 24 years with the Friday Night Locker Room, a broadcasting team that covers and reports on a wide variety of local events that are of significance to the residents of the Space Coast and beyond. Their mission is to promote youth sports, support first responders and law enforcement personnel, and showcase community and charitable events that are produced by our nonprofit partners in central Florida.
The Friday Night Locker Room has awarded hundreds of sports achievement plaques to Brevard County student-athletes over the years. They have also awarded more than $18,000 in academic scholarships to Brevard County high school seniors.
