Palm Coast, Flagler County honor fallen servicemen

Retired Army Col. Cecil Hengeveld was the guest speaker at the Flagler County Memorial Day Ceremony; Mayor David Alfin spoke at the city's ceremony at Heroes Memorial Park.

By Brent Woronoff
| 5:10 p.m. May 30, 2022

Charlie Hayes, left, of the Sons of the American Revolution Flagler Chapter, and Flagler County Veteran Services Officer David Lydon lay a wreath at the county's Memorial Day Ceremony. Photo by Brent Woronoff

Col. Cecil Hengeveld was the guest speaker at Flagler County's Memorial Day Ceremony at the Government Services Building. Photo by Brent Woronoff

A Matanzas Army JROTC color guard member at the Palm Coast Memorial Day Ceremony at Heroes Memorial Park. Photo by Brent Woronoff

Mayor David Alfin at Palm Coast's Memorial Day Ceremony. Photo by Brent Woronoff

The Choral Arts Society sings the national anthem at Heroes Memorial Park. Photo by Brent Woronoff

Mayor David Alfin speaks at Palm Coast's Memorial Day Ceremony. Photo by Brent Woronoff

Daniel Hughes was recognized at the Flagler County Memorial Day Ceremony. Photo by Brent Woronoff

Tom Piekarski, left, of the Flagler County Veterans Advisory Council, and Veteran Services Officer David Lydon. Photo by Brent Woronoff

County Commissioner David Sullivan. Photo by Brent Woronoff

Former Navy band member Earl Presley sings the national anthem at the county's Memorial Day Ceremony at the Government Services Building. Photo by Brent Woronoff

Frank "Paco" Arce of the Marine Corps League at the county's Memorial Day Ceremony. Photo by Brent Woronoff.

County Commissioner Greg Hansen. Photo by Brent Woronoff

Color guard at the Flagler County Memorial Day Ceremony. Photo by Brent Woronoff

The Marine Corps League performs the 21-gun salute. Photo by Brent Woronoff

Mayor David Alfin, the Matanzas Army JROTC color guard and master of ceremonies Jared Dawson, seated. Photo by Brent Woronoff

Attending the Palm Coast Memorial Day Ceremony at Heroes Memorial Park. Photo by Brent Woronoff

A veteran's salute at the Palm Coast Memorial Day Ceremony. Photo by Brent Woronoff

Attendees at the Palm Coast Memorial Day Ceremony. Photo by Brent Woronoff

Tom Piekarski salutes as the county remembers Master Sgt. Michael Heiser (framed photo). Photo by Brent Woronoff

County Commission Chairman Joe Mullins. Photo by Brent Woronoff

A member of the Matanzas Army JROTC color guard at the Palm Coast Memorial Day Ceremony at Heroes Memorial Park. Photo by Brent Woronoff

Palm Coast Mayor David Alfin. Photo by Brent Woronoff

Ron Gossard of the Marine Corps League at the county's Memorial Day Ceremony. Photo by Brent Woronoff

Palm Coast Observer
News

Mayor David Alfin reminded those in attendance at Palm Coast's Memorial Day Ceremony that the service had not been organized for them but for "those who have given their lives in defense for freedom."

Mayor David Alfin's remarks

As this is my first Memorial Day as Palm Coast’s Mayor, I couldn’t help but think back to how I might have been feeling on this very day in years past.

I can vividly recall Memorial Day weekends when I was a very young boy. In those days, the holiday was called Decoration Day because it was the occasion when America decorated graves of soldiers with flowers and flags.

I particularly remember that the Memorial Day weekend signaled the beginning of summer vacation – the first chance to go to the beach or have a picnic. For me, Memorial Day memories could be something pleasant.

And then I grew up. Gratefully, it didn’t take long to grasp that there is truly a more profound meaning for Memorial Day. I came to understand that it is a solemn period when all Americans gather in memory of those fallen soldiers and law enforcement personnel who lost their lives fighting for our country. They sacrificed everything they had for me. For my family. For my life.

And I opened my eyes to feel the sorrow of a nation that came together to pause, reflect and remember those deceased but precious friends and relatives so very dear to us.

Now as your Mayor, I am humbled to stand before you to remind you that our service this morning at Heroes Park has not been organized for those here in attendance. Rather, it is about those who are NOT here – those who have given their lives in the defense of our freedom . . . to those who have protected our lives by giving their own.

Today we are unable to spend this treasured moment in time with someone we’ve lost. But instead, we can collectively hold that person spiritually in our souls. In this way, we can find strength in each other’s hope for a stronger America and a kinder legacy of those left behind. When we honor and cherish our lost loved ones, their sacrifice is appreciated magnificently.

I’d now like to take a moment to pay tribute to the finest of our own Palm Coast citizens who surrendered their lives by defending our nation. Their names will forever be inscribed with honor on these sacred Heroes Park monuments.

If any members of the family of these heroes are present this morning, will you please stand?

United States Air Force Master Sergeant Michael George
Heiser

United States Marine Corps Lance Corporal John T.
Schmidt III

United States Marine Core Sergeant Zachary J. Walters

United States Army Specialist Raheen Tyson Heighter

United States Army Sergeant Lukas T. Stanford

United States Air Force Staff Sergeant Robert Steven
Martin O’Neill

To the family and friends of these fearless men — remember that every member of your Palm Coast community shares in your pride and honor for your loved ones. May they rest in peace and may they feel in their souls that Palm Coast will never forget them.

I’d now like to close my address with this most fitting poem.

When I’m Gone
By Mrs. Lyman Hancock

When I come to the end of my journey
And I travel my last weary mile,
Just forget if you can, that I ever frowned
And remember only the smile

Forget unkind words I have spoken
Remember some good I have done
Forget that I ever had heartache
And remember I’ve had loads of fun

Forget that I’ve stumbled and blundered
And sometimes fell by the way.

Remember I have fought some hard battles

And won, ere the close of day.

Then forget to grieve for my going,
I would not have you sad for a day,
But in summer just gather some flowers
And remember the place where I lay.

And come in the shade of evening
When the sun paints the sky in the west
Stand for a few moments beside me
And remember only my best.

The city held its ceremony Monday morning at Heroes Memorial Park. Flagler County held its Memorial Day Ceremony later in the morning in front of the Government Service Building. Retired Army Col. Cecil Hengeveld was the guest speaker.

Hengeveld is a Vietnam veteran, served as a flight instructor and later joined the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. He was the commander of the 1028th Transportation Helicopter Company, Eastern Army National Guard Aviation Training Site. He was appointed Deputy Adjutant General for the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs in 2001 and has since retired.

“It is an honor and a privilege to have an accomplished veteran like Cecil Hengeveld help us pay tribute to those who lost their lives in service to our country,” Flagler County Veterans Services Officer David Lydon said.

Palm Coast resident Daniel Hughes, United States Marine Corps, received special recognition at the county's ceremony. Hughes, who was inducted last year into the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame, was instrumental in getting the Jacksonville National Cemetery approved.

"It is a beautiful site, the cemetery, and those sacred grounds," Hughes said.

The county honored Air Force Master Sgt. Michael Heiser, who was killed in the terrorist bombing of Khobar Tower, while serving in Saudi Arabia in 1996.

Former Navy Seabee Joe Licata, of American Legion Post 115, played Taps and rang the bell for final roll call. Frank Consentino read a patriotic poem. The American Legion joined with Matanzas Army JROTC cadets to post and retire colors.

CECIL HENGEVELD'S REMARKS:

I am honored and humbled to have this opportunity to speak to all of you on this Memorial Day.

My wife and I have had the privilege, to attend Memorial Day ceremonies at the Arlington National Cemetery, the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, and have visited our fallen comrades at the Normandy American Cemetery.

Each of these experiences were very solemn and very moving.

But, to me, the most impactful and impressive Memorial Day ceremonies we have attended, are ceremonies like this one. In our home towns. Where, we are with our friends, neighbors and relatives, remembering all who have served and sacrificed for each of us.

Over the years, I have spoken to many veterans and their organizations such as the American Legion, the VFW, AMVETS, DAV and the Gold Star Mothers. I have also spoken with many people in government about the needs of veterans.

The message I have always tried to hammer home, especially since less than 1% of our population is serving in our military today, is that not only does each military member serve and sacrifice for our country, their entire family also sacrifices. Each and every day, they pray for, and wait for the safe return of their loved ones.

Whether it is their father, mother, son, daughter, sister or brother who dies in the service of our country, for that family every day is a Memorial Day.

Memorial Day ceremonies, like this one, provides all of us the opportunity to remember those who died for our country, to reflect upon and honor those sacrifices, and to remember those who are still mourning.

I know that all of us here, have shown, that we remember.

I would like to believe, most of our citizens truly cherish those ultimate sacrifices, which were made to protect and preserve, the freedoms we hold dear.

I hope, that today, they will pause, and reflect during the National Moment of Remembrance at 3 p.m.

I am sure that everyone here, who has enlisted into the military, remembers taking their Oath of Enlistment. For those of you who never enlisted, these are the words of that solemn promise to serve our nation:

“I, (repeat your name), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the president of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.”

Upon entering military service, each individual learns, to hold dear, the Core Values, of their particular service.

These Core Values are:

For the Navy & Marines: Honor, Courage, Commitment.

For the Air Force & Space Command: Integrity, Service before self, Excellence in all we do.

For the U.S. Coast Guard: Honor, Respect, Devotion to Duty,

For the Army: I will always place the mission first. I will never accept defeat. I will never quit. I will never leave a fallen comrade.

These are the solemn oaths, and core values, by which our fallen lived by and died for.

As a society, we must ensure, that our elected officials appreciate the sacrifices of those who served and especially of those who have fallen. We must also ensure, that our children, who are our future, learn to understand and value these sacrifices. They must learn the importance of remembering and honoring them.

In Palm Coast, we have been fortunate to have veterans willing to go into our schools and speak about the importance of why we, as a nation, observe Memorial and Veterans Day ceremonies.

Over the years, you and I have heard many speakers recall the origins of Memorial Day.

It began with Decoration Day, which originated during the Civil War, when citizens placed flowers on the graves of those who had been killed in battle.

After World War I, the war to end all wars, Decoration Day came to be observed in honor of everyone who had died in all U.S. wars. Decoration Day was officially changed to Memorial Day in 1968.

Every Memorial Day, speakers try to honor, our fallen with impassioned emotional words, in order to emphasize, to their audience, the gravity of honoring our fallen heroes.

It is extremely difficult, to put those feelings into words, that will relate to each of us. We do honor the past. But it is very difficult to pass on, to feel the raw emotion, the passion, and the loss, felt by their families who know all too well, about the sacrifices these heroes, made for all of us.

However, this year, on TV and social media, most of us have seen the daily sacrifices and acts of heroism shown by Ukrainians, as they protect their homeland.

These shocking sacrifices, should vividly remind us, of the sacrifices made by our fallen heroes and their families, protecting our nation in its time of need.

Now I will leave you with some quotes made by more eloquent Memorial Day speakers than I.

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt said: “Those who have long enjoyed, such privileges, as we enjoy, forget in time, that men and women have died to win them.”

President John F. Kennedy said: "As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation, is not to utter the words, but to live by them.”

Daniel Webster said: “Let their remembrance be as lasting, as the land they honored.”

What else can be said?

Thank you for Remembering! May God Bless America!