- April 25, 2024
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People complete four minutes of silence during the Memorial Day ceremony on Monday, May 25. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
A member of the Vietnam Veterans of America holds a flag as he walks onto the beach from Tom Renick Park on Monday, May 25. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
A flag is pitched on the sand for Memorial Day. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
People gather on the beach to commemorate Memorial Day at Tom Renick Park on Monday, May 25. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
People carry flags onto the beach for Memorial Day at Tom Renick Park on Monday, May 25. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Scott Sheldon, of Vet Hub Local, speaks during the brief Memorial Day ceremony at the beach on Monday, May 25. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
A veteran plays taps during the Memorial Day ceremony on Monday, May 25. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
People gather at the beach for a Memorial Day ceremony on Monday, May 25. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
People salute the flag during the Memorial Day ceremony at the beach on Monday, May 25. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
A member of Ormond Strong sings the national anthem during the Memorial Day ceremony at the beach on Monday, May 25. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Robert Adkins, of the Vietnam Veterans Chapter 1048, asks those in attendance to say the names of known fallen soldiers. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
People wave their flags in the air for a final group photo on the beach at the conclusion of the Memorial Day ceremony on Monday, May 25. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Members of multiple local veteran organizations gathered at the beach at Tom Renick Park in Ormond-by-the-Sea on Monday, May 25, to ensure that fallen soldiers were not forgotten this Memorial Day, despite annual remembrance events having been canceled due to COVID-19.
The "Four the Fallen" event, organized by U.S. Army veteran Scott Sheldon, of Vet Hub Local, featured four minutes of silence to remember and mourn those who died while serving in the armed forces. Groups like Ormond Strong, the Vietnam Veterans Chapter 1048 and the American Legion were in attendance, along with family and friends.
When Sheldon heard Memorial Day events were being canceled due to the pandemic, he knew he had to find a way to still pay tribute to fallen soldiers. He couldn't let a Memorial Day go by without doing so.
“To me, it just was not right that we should cancel these events," Sheldon said. "We’re here to celebrate those who gave their life, and I thought, ‘You know, it’d be a really neat experience to do it on the beach with our American flags.’”
And so, people held up flags on the beach on the overcast Monday morning. A veteran performed taps, and names of fallen service members were spoken aloud.
“We kept everything simple," Sheldon said. "It really is about the fallen."
Vet Hub Local was started by Sheldon as a way to unite local veteran organizations and inform the community about resources and events. For more information, visit vethublocal.com
