- April 24, 2024
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Jim Bowers and Cmdr. John Higgins place the first ceremonial wreath during the city's annual Memorial Day Remembrance Service. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Daytona Beach Concert Band director Charles Long. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
A percussionist with the Daytona Beach Concert Band plays the timpani during the city's annual Memorial Day Remembrance Service. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
French horn players of the Daytona Beach Concert Band perform during the city's annual Memorial Day Remembrance Service. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Members of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1048 march during the presentation of the colors for the city's annual Memorial Day Remembrance Service. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Members of the DeLand High School JROTC present the colors during the city's annual Memorial Day Remembrance Service. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Richard Sawiki, of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1048, helps hoist the American flag during the city's annual Memorial Day Remembrance Service. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Retired U.S. Army Chaplain Rabbi Howard Schwartz and retired U.S. Navy Rev. Willie Branch Jr. salute during the city's annual Memorial Day Remembrance Service. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Boy Scouts with Troop 65 salute during the city's annual Memorial Day Remembrance Service. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Mayor Bill Partington speaks during the city's annual Memorial Day Remembrance Service. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Retired U.S. Navy Rev. Willie Branch Jr. and retired U.S. Army Chaplain Rabbi Howard Schwartz deliver the invocation during the city's annual Memorial Day Remembrance Service. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Michael Cunningam, of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1048, bows his head during the city's annual Memorial Day Remembrance Service. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Retired U.S. Navy Cmdr. John Higgins speaks during the city's annual Memorial Day Remembrance Service. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Mayor Bill Partington, City Commissioner Susan Persis, Volusia County School Board member Carl Persis, City Commissioner Harold Briley and his wife Lori attended the city's annual Memorial Day Remembrance Service. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Retired U.S. Navy Cmdr. John Higgins shares a smile with Retired U.S. Navy Rev. Willie Branch Jr. and retired U.S. Army Chaplain Rabbi Howard Schwartz during the city's annual Memorial Day Remembrance Service. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
U.S. Navy Lt. Casey Lancaster stands during the city's annual Memorial Day Remembrance Service. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
A retired member of the U.S. Coast Guard waves her branch's flag during the city's annual Memorial Day Remembrance Service. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
City Commissioner Travis Sargent, who served in the Marine Corps, stands during the city's annual Memorial Day Remembrance Service. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
U.S. Marine Corps veteran John Reeves stands during the city's annual Memorial Day Remembrance Service. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Gabe Sanchez and Rick Brown, Jr., of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1048, stand during the city's annual Memorial Day Remembrance Service. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Jim Bowers and Cmdr. John Higgins salute the ceremonial wreath during the city's annual Memorial Day Remembrance Service. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Bob Adkins, president of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1048, leads the placing of a ceremonial wreath honoring Vietnam veterans during the city's annual Memorial Day Remembrance Service. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
VVA Chapter 1048 President Bob Adkins, Secretary Rick Brown and Second Vice President Gabe Sanchez, and others, salute the wreath during the city's annual Memorial Day Remembrance Service. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Members of the Coastal Florida Police and Fire Pipes and Drums perform during the city's annual Memorial Day Remembrance Service. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
A member of the Daytona Beach Concert Band sings "America the Beautiful" during the city's annual Memorial Day Remembrance Service. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Cmdr. John Higgins performs the tolling of eight bells during the city's annual Memorial Day Remembrance Service. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
A trumpet player with the Daytona Beach Concert Band performs taps during the city's annual Memorial Day Remembrance Service. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Volusia County Councilman Troy Kent places a flower to conclude the city's annual Memorial Day Remembrance Service. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
City Commissioner Susan Persis (right) pays tribute to fallen veterans at the conclusion of the city's annual Memorial Day Remembrance Service. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
People place flowers to conclude the city's annual Memorial Day Remembrance Service. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
People place flowers to conclude the city's annual Memorial Day Remembrance Service. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
People place flowers to conclude the city's annual Memorial Day Remembrance Service. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
People place flowers to conclude the city's annual Memorial Day Remembrance Service. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
People place flowers to conclude the city's annual Memorial Day Remembrance Service. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
DAR member Susan Barry (middle) and Sally Soderblom (right) places flowers to conclude the city's annual Memorial Day Remembrance Service. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
March 29 marked the 50th anniversary of the return of U.S. troops from Vietnam. And though decades have passed, retired U.S. Navy Cmdr. John Higgins on May 29 still welcomed home his fellow Vietnam veterans — many of whom, he said, returned scarred from their service.
“One thing that sets Vietnam War veterans from Americans who served the nation’s other wars is the abysmal lack of a welcome many returned to,” Higgins said. “... We casually refer to the 58,000-plus Americans we lost in the war, while we speculate that as many as 20,000 other lives have been lost due to suicide, drugs and terminal disease. The fact that I was allowed to survive and come home left me wondering if I deserved the life I was granted.”
Higgins was the guest speaker for Ormond Beach’s annual Memorial Day Remembrance Service, held Monday, May 29, at Rockefeller Gardens with help from American Legion Post 167 and American Legion Unit 267.
The service also featured a wreath-laying ceremony, a rifle salute, music by the Daytona Beach Concert Band, and the tolling of eight bells, which honors a sailor’s end of watch.
Higgins’ career in the Navy began in 1969 at the Naval Training Center in San Diego, California. After the Vietnam War ended in 1975, he re-enlisted and trained as an aviation electronics technician and later became a pilot in 1977. During his 30 years in the Navy, he was named “1980 Sea Sailor of the Year,” completed three six-month deployments to Antarctica and served as Officer in Charge at the Naval Air Facility Washington.
In his address, Higgins highlighted the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day.
“Memorial Day commemorates the men and women who died while serving the United States Armed Forces, particularly those who died in battle or as a result of wounds sustained in battle,” he said. “In other words, the purpose of Memorial Day is to memorialize veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice to their country.”
It’s not a day for celebration, Higgins added. It’s for reflection.
“So many men and women have given their all so we may enjoy the freedoms we have today,” he said. “I also think we must remember those who returned, but their lives have been completely turned around and will never be the same.”
Mayor Bill Partington, who issued a proclamation during the ceremony, said many locals have their own personal stories about fallen veterans.
“The truth of the matter is, it devastates the families and reminds us all that freedom is not free,” Partington said.
Retired U.S. Navy Rev. Willie Branch Jr. and retired U.S. Army Chaplain Rabbi Howard Schwartz delivered both the invocation and benediction at the ceremony. Branch offered a Christian prayer; Schwartz, a Jewish one.
Don’t thank a living veteran today, Branch said. Their day will come on Veterans Day, held annually on Nov. 11.
“Go to the graveyard,” Branch said. “Thank them, for this is their day, not ours.”
