VFW celebrates Memorial Day with remembrance

By Shanna Fortier
| 4:00 a.m. May 26, 2014

VFW Post 8696 Cmndr. Ron Stark places flowers on a memorial to symbolize truth and fedelity.

Palm Coast Observer
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Food preparations for the Palm Coast Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8696 annual Memorial Day Picnic started three days ago. With an anticipated attendance of 200 people, the Ladies Auxiliary needed plenty of time to prepare the deviled eggs.

But as much as everyone loved the Monday afternoon all-American meal, the real reason behind the holiday was celebrated during a ceremony in front of the post May 26, before the eating began.

In commemorating the virtues of the departed heroes who served the United States in time of need, Jim Allen, Past Cmndr. Pat Donnelly and Cmndr. Ron Stark placed flowers on a memorial stone at the post’s flag pole. The red symbolizing the zeal of the departed comrades in upholding brotherhood, trust and justice; the white, a token of the purity of affection we have for the departed comrades; and the blue, a symbol of truth and fidelity.