- July 26, 2024
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Daniel Keirns, a 31-year Navy veteran, salutes during the national anthem, next to his wife, Kay Keirns, at the Memorial Day ceremony. Photo by Sierra Williams
American Legion Post 115's Joseph Licata rings the Lost Roll Call bell for Flagler County veterans who died over the last year. Photo by Sierra Williams
Flagler County Commission Chair Andy Dance opens the Memorials Day ceremony. Photo by Sierra Williams
The Matanzas High School JROTC Color Guards raises the colors. Photo by Sierra Williams
Flagler County's Girls Scout Troop 2413 and Boy Scout Troop 400 lead the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance. Photo by Sierra Williams
The Knights of Columbus Color Guard. Photo by Sierra Williams
Melanie DeMartino sings the national anthem. Photo by Sierra Williams
Retired United States Marine Corps Col. Mark Thieme, executive director of the Florida State Guard, was the county's guest speaker. Photo by Sierra Williams
Giovanni Torres, a United States Army first sergeant with the second battalion, 54th Security Force Assistance Brigade in Palm Coast, salutes the flag during the opening of the county Memorials Day ceremony. Photo by Sierra Williams
Flagler County hosted its annual Memorial Day ceremony on May 27. Photo by Sierra Williams
Veteran Vince Cautero salutes the flag during the national anthem. Photo by Sierra Williams
Sons of the American Revolution member Charlie Hayes. Photo by Sierra Williams
Julia V. Moore and Flagler County Court Judge Melissa Distler spoke in honor of Moore's brother, U.S. Army Cpl. Owen Niel Garnet, who died in the line of duty in 1968. Photo by Sierra Williams
Billy Jones, from Flagler County's chapter of the Military Officers Association of America, and Marine Corps League member Jeff Kingdon both presented guest speaker Mark Thieme with commemorative plaques. Photo by Sierra Williams
Marine Corps League Detachment 876 fired a three-volley salute at the end of the ceremony. Photo by Sierra Williams
Vince Cautero performs "God Bless the USA" at the closing of the Memorial Day ceremony. Photo by Sierra Williams
Joseph Lucata plays taps as the county Memorial Day ceremony ends. Photo by Sierra Williams
Lisa Mickel, with Boy Scout Troop 400. Photo by Sierra Williams
Veteran Andrew Nadolski and his wife Katherine at the Flagler County Memorial Day ceremony. Photo by Sierra Williams
Thirty-six east, row nine: That is where the name of Julia Moore's brother, U.S. Army Cpl. Owen Niel Garnet, lies on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C.
It's been 56 years since Garnet died during the Vietnam War, but Moore said she never imagined he wouldn't come back from war.
"I always loved him and knew that he didn't even if he didn't show it, he loved me and looked out for me," she said. "He was my big brother."
Garnet was honored for his sacrifice at the Flagler County Memorial Day Ceremony on May 27. Moore and her daughter Flagler County Court Judge Melissa Distler — the niece Garnet never got a chance to meet — spoke in Garnet's honor during the ceremony.
Moore said her brother joined the Army alongside his friend who had been drafted. She said she remembered how Garnet loved to play baseball and played catcher in little league and in high school. To this day, her favorite position is catcher, she said.
Moore said she wishes Garnet were still alive and able to meet his niece and Moore's grandchildren. She still misses him, she said.
"Our dad, who was a World War II veteran, grieved in silence," Moore said. "I don't know that our mother ever recovered."
Flagler County Veterans Service Officer David Lydon said Garnet was assigned to the second battalion, 47th mechanized infantry. At just 20 years old, Garnet was killed in Bien Hoa, Vietnam on Jan. 31, 1968.
"His friends still miss him, especially on Memorial Day," Lydon said. "Scholarships have been awarded in his name."
Retired U.S. Marine Corps Col. Mark Thieme, executive director of the Florida State Guard, was the county's guest speaker for the ceremony. During his service, Thieme earned the military honors the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Combat Action Ribbon and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, among other honors, according to a press release from Flagler County.
Melanie DeMartino sang the national anthem and local Boy and Girls Scout Troops 400 and 2314 lead the group in the Pledge of Allegiance to open the ceremony.
Veteran Vince Cautero closed the ceremony with a rendition of "God Bless the USA."
