Flagler County officials have been honoring veterans within the county government with a weeklong social media tribute through Veterans Day, Thursday, Nov. 11.
“I am truly honored to work with so many veterans who have served our country with distinction, and who continue to serve our community in other capacities,” County Administrator Heidi Petito said. “There’s no one more deserving of our gratitude and respect than those who have served, or who continue to serve in the military, so that we can continue to enjoy the benefits of living in the USA.”
Individual recognition for the 30 participating veterans — as well as some who are still serving in the reserves or National Guard — within the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners will post through Veterans Day to the county’s Facebook page: facebook.com/FlaglerCountyGovernment.
Flagler County Government offices are closed on Veterans Day, and will reopen Monday, Nov. 14.
Free events to honor veterans on this holiday weekend include:
- Flagler County and Palm Coast Veterans Day Ceremony, 10 a.m. Nov. 11, Central Park, at 975 Central Avenue, Palm Coast. A picnic lunch for veterans will follow from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. for veterans and their families.
- Flagler Beach Veterans Day Ceremony, 1 p.m. Nov. 11, Veterans Park, 101 N. Oceanshore Boulevard.
- Flagler County Public Library Palm Coast Main Branch “White Table Ceremony” to honor service men and women who are prisoners of war or missing in action, 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, at 2500 Palm Coast Parkway Northwest.
- Celebrate America, noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, Florida Agricultural Museum, at 7900 Old Kings Road. Opening ceremonies at 12:30 p.m. by Rep. Paul Renner and local elected officials. Features live music, a kids’ zone, radio-controlled aerobatics at 2:30 p.m.
Listed below are the veterans and service members participating in the tribute:
Tim Baltzley
- Road and Bridge
- United States Army
- 7 years
Danny Bowman
- Airport Operations
- United States Coast Guard
- 21.5 years
John Brower
- Financial Services
- United States Navy
- 5 years
Eric Companioni
- Fire Rescue
- United States Army
- 4 years
Eduardo Diaz Cordero
- Health and Human Services
- United States Army and Florida National Guard
- 7 years
James Crawford
- Road and Bridge
- United States Coast Guard
- 20 years
Collin Dills
- Fire Rescue
- Army Florida National Guard
- 6 years (currently serving)
Christopher Ellis
- Fire Rescue
- United States Army
- 18 years total – active duty 13 years, and currently serving in the reserves
Eric Flores Febles
- Veterans Service
- U.S. Army Reserve and U.S. Navy
- 23 years – U.S. Army Reserve (1984-1987), and U.S. Navy (Active, 1987-2007)
Charles Grebe
- Building Department
- United States Navy
- 4 years
Jim Grove
- Emergency Management Volunteer
- United States Army
- 29 years
Greg Hansen
- County Commissioner
- United States Navy
- 27 Years
Nealon Joseph
- Emergency Management
- United States Air Force
- 10 years (2004-2014)
David P. Lydon Jr.
- Veterans Services
- United States Air Force
- 37 years+ (still in service)
James Melady
- Fire Rescue
- United States Navy
- 10 years (2006-2016)
Connor Nelson
- Innovation Technology
- United States Air Force
- 3 years
Jonathan Andrew Nemergut
- Library
- United States Army
- 6 Years (2001-2007)
Devrie Paradowski
- Health & Human Services
- United States Navy
- 7 years
Andrew Pearson
- Financial Services
- United States Navy
- 4 years
Matthew Rivera
- Innovation Technology
- United States Navy
- 13 years
Robert Rounds
- Purchasing
- United States Navy
- 4 years
Roy Sieger
- Airport
- United States Marine Corps
- 20 years (1984-2004)
Jesse Sintscha
- Fire Rescue
- United States Navy
- 4 years (1998-2002)
Joshua Smith
- Fire Rescue
- United States Air Force
- 9 years
John Steadman
- Fire Rescue
- United States Army Reserves
- Currently serving
John Strickland
- Fire Rescue
- United States Navy
- 3 years
David C. Sullivan
- County Commissioner
- United States Navy
- Retired after 28 years of active service
Steven “Todd” Whaley
- FireFlight
- United States Navy
- 5 years (1992-1997)
Samantha Whitfield
- Human Resources
- United States Air Force
- 20 years
Richard Zufelt
- Purchasing
- United States Air Force and New York Air National Guard
- 8 years
