A ceremony to remember

Yesterday’s ceremony at Veterans Memorial Plaza, was one of a series of scheduled events designed to draw visitors to “The Wall That Heals”, during the Wall's five-day stay in Apalachicola before departing the city this Sunday to continue on its national tour.

Franklin County’s school aged kids from various public, private, and chartered schools took the day off to visit the Wall and participate in the ceremony.

The kids not even in existence during the Vietnam conflict, danced, stepped, and song with such enthusiasm that it left me feeling especially grateful toward all the men and women who have fought so that our country can remain the land of the free.


More importantly, the kids left me with a renewed sense of hope, hopeful that when their generator take over the reins of government, that unlike previous generations, they will see fit to eliminate the need for war, hatred and poverty.

As well as with the other kids, Tommie Lee Dowden, a senior at Franklin County School took part in the ceremony by reading a poem about Clifford Millender of Carrabelle. During the Vietnam War, Millender, a relative of Dowden, whose name appears on the Wall, gave his life in the fight for our freedom.

Closing out Friday’s ceremony with a beautiful rendition of Kristi Moore’s American Tears, was Ashley Carroll, a seventh-grader at the Franklin County School.

The Wall Has Arrived

Yesterday afternoon April 28, “The Wall That Heals” traveled U.S. 98 through the streets of Apalachicola making its way to the site of the Three Servicemen Statue Detail at Veterans Memorial Plaza where it will rest over the weekend.

A Police escort led the Wall into town followed by the Patriot Guard Riders, which made up the more than 400 motorcycle motorcade. The Riders are a diverse mix of motorcyclists from across the nation that has an unwavering respect for those who risk their lives for America’s freedom and security.

Local residents, schoolchildren, and visitors alike lined U.S. 98 waving miniatures flags in show of support for the Wall’s arrival and for the men and women who gave their all for freedom.

Once at the hallowed grounds of Veterans Memorial Plaza, veterans from all wars stood sobered faced while three military style helicopters flew overhead. Followed quickly was a short ceremony that included a prayer, speeches, and a poem, before Jimmy Mosconis, President of Three Servicemen Statue South, Inc., was present the American flag.

According to Ella Mosconis, a group was expected from Tyndall late afternoon to assemble and ready the Wall for the opening day ceremony at 11:00AM Thursday, April 30.



Footage and photos by Gail D. Johnson

An Exciting Weekend Ahead

The weekend coming up will be a very exciting and busy time for the City of Apalachicola and its residents.

The Wall That Heals

Starting today, April 28, around 1:00PM EST, “The Wall That Heals” will arrive into Apalachicola from west of the city escorted by a motorcycle motorcade to rest at Veterans Memorial Plaza near the Three Soldiers Detail for five days until Sunday, May 3.

The City of Apalachicola is the third stop on the national tour of “The Wall That Heals” which is a traveling half-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial located in Washington, DC. Accompanying the Wall will be a traveling Museum and Information Center, which will provide a comprehensive educational component to enrich the experiences of visitors.

On Thursday, April 30 at 11:00AM EST, there will be an opening ceremony, which will feature Ann Wolcott, national President of the National Gold Star Mothers, as keynote speaker, and a closing ceremony on Sunday, May 3 at 7:00PM with Apalachicola native and West Point graduate, COL (USA-Ret) Harry Buzzett as keynote speaker.

There will also be other programs scheduled throughout the five-day event. Don’t miss it! This will be the only time outside of Washington where the Three Soldiers Detail and the Wall will rest together.

Historic Home Tour

Friday May 1, will start the 17th Annual Historic Apalachicola Home & Garden Tour sponsored by Trinity Episcopal Church.

In addition to “The Wall That Heals”, organizers are expecting the tour to draw more than 1,000 visitors to Apalachicola for the two-day event on Friday and Saturday, May 1 and 2.

The event will began with Evensong at 5:30PM Friday, May 1, at the Trinity Episcopal Church followed by a free lecture on the economic benefits of historic preservation at 6:30PM by preservation architect Mark Tarmey. Tarmey is the current President of the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation and is currently involved in several preservation projects through the 4M Design Group that he heads.

Registration for the tour will begin at 9:30AM Saturday, May 2, at Trinity. The featured home for this year’s tour will be the former home of world-renowned botanist Dr. Alvin Wentworth Chapman, located at 82 - 6th Street.

For information on ticket sales, call Trinity Church at (850) 653-9550 or the Chamber of Commerce at (850) 653-9419.

The Wall That Heals

Mark your calendars for the arrival of “The Wall That Heals” on April 30 through May 3, 2009. The Wall That Heals is a half-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., designed to travel to communities throughout the United States.

The traveling exhibit allows the many thousands of veterans who have been unable to cope with the prospect of "facing The Wall" to find the strength and courage to do so within their own communities, thus allowing the healing process to begin.

Bringing “The Wall” to communities throughout the United States also allows the souls enshrined on the Memorial to exist, once more, among family and friends in the peace and comfort of familiar surroundings.

Since its dedication on Veterans Day in 1996, The Wall That Heals has traveled to more than 300 cities and towns throughout the nation, spreading the Memorial's healing legacy to millions.

This year, thanks to the Three Servicemen Statue South, Inc., the 2009 tour schedule with bring “The Wall” to Veterans Memorial Plaza the site of the Three Serviceman Statue Detail here in the Historic City of Apalachicola.

For more information visit www.vvmf.org or

www.threeservicemenstatuesouth.org.

American Legion holds Veterans Day Service

American Legion Post 106 of Apalachicola held the first Veterans Day memorial service this morning at the newly completed Veterans Memorial Plaza, the site of the Three Serviceman Statue Detail. The program started promptly at 11AM, the hour of the signing of the Armistice by the Allied Forces and Germany that ended World War I, on November 11, 1918.

The service was officiated by Post Member Al Mirabella. Mirabella opened the service with a welcome followed by an invocation given by Post Chaplain, Charles Scott and the pledge of allegiance to the U.S. Flag.

The event speaker was also Scott, who gave a brief history on the origin of Veterans Day and honored veterans of all wars and conflicts in his remarks. Scott also performed the Missing Man Ceremony, a reference to an empty table that sat to symbolize soldiers missing in action.

Below is video footage of the memorial service.

Footage from TSS Dedication

Photos of the Mayor at this event can be viewed by clicking HERE

TSS Dedication Ceremony

Today at 10:30 AM, the Three Service Statue South, Inc. will kick off their dedication and unveiling of the long awaited monument at Veterans Memorial Plaza on Market Street. As Mayor I will attend, however, I will not be speaking at the ceremony this morning, if I were, I would have spoken about the following:

I would have told those gathered of how they stood in the shadows of history and how blessed they were to be eyewitnesses to this historic event. I would have explained to them, that when the writers of history write about the City of Apalachicola, they would classify this day as a new beginning or describe it as the most defining moment in the annals of Apalachicola.

I would have made certain to mention, that this is the only replica of its kind, outside Washington, D.C., and how privilege we are to have this sculpture rest in the cradle of this small coastal community.

I would have expressed upon the crowd how the mere presence of this stirring memorial will serve as an everlasting reminder of how the seafaring men from this area hung their nets up to join the struggle to keep this country the land of the free and the home of the brave.

I guess, I would have said all of that or perhaps I would have just said, Good Morning, welcome . . . and thanks for coming.

Three Serviceman Statue Interview

Mayor Johnson interviewed by Royce Rolstad of local FCTV Channel 3, after the Three Servicemen Statue groundbreaking ceremony.