On Nov. 10, Plant City Elks Lodge #1727 with the backing of the City of Plant City, Historic Plant City Main Street and the Chamber of Commerce came together to present the second annual barbecue for veterans and active military. The event was held in the TECO Expo Hall at the Strawberry Festival Grounds with nearly 400 people in attendance. There were 278 veterans and their spouses and children. Ten World War II veterans were honored. It was also the 244th birthday of the Marines and they performed the cake ceremony in which the oldest Marine cuts the cake first and gives it to the youngest Marine. The oldest Marine, 97, came in a full-dress uniform and the youngest, 27, is a Plant City police officer. U.S. Congressman Ross Spano sang the national anthem and spoke about the importance of veterans. Captain Danny Burgess, Executive Director of Florida Department of Veterans Affairs, and Mark Stephens, a veteran from U.S. Special Forces, Delta Force, also spoke. Stephens was a participant in the tragic Black Hawk Down incident in Mogadishu; as a retired veteran, he is Executive Director of Task Force Dagger. He has just returned from Saipan where he and his team retrieved remains of American soldiers. The theme was "Tie a Yellow Ribbon 'round the Old Oak Tree," so Elks, Scouts and high school honor students tied nearly 1,000 yellow ribbons downtown and on the main streets. The event honored veterans, active military members, POW-MIAs and the 22 veterans each day we lose to suicide. The Elks received accolades from the mayor, vice mayor, city commissioners, citizens and veterans. Volunteers included Elks, a high school color guard, Boy Scouts, and children and grandchildren of Elks.
World War II Marine veteran Carl Dekle, 97, cuts a cake and gives the first piece to the youngest Marine, police officer Yarley Vasallo, 27, at Plant City’s barbecue for veterans and active military sponsored by Plant City Lodge, City of Plant City, Historic Plant City Main Street and the Chamber of Commerce Nov. 10.
An unidentified veteran kneels at the POW-MIA table.