The Legion’s Memorial Day ceremony on Monday, May 30, is open to the public.
The United States lost 405,399 soldiers during World War II, according to the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
During the Korean War, 54,246 American soldiers were lost, followed by 90,220 soldiers during the Vietnam War.
Each year, these soldiers and thousands of others lost in battle are remembered on Memorial Day. In Plant City, the annual day is marked with a ceremony at American Legion Post 26.
The Legion’s Memorial Day ceremony Monday, May 30, is open to the public.
“Everybody is invited,” Alvin McGary, post commander, said. “It’s a dedicated ceremony. We’re paying homage to military members.”
McGary has been involved in planning the ceremony for the last 10 years, but the Legion has been hosting the ceremony for at least 20 years.
Over 350 people came to the event in 2015. This year, McGary is hoping for even more attendees.
“We hope to fill the room,” McGary said. “They don’t have to be a veteran to come out.”
The ceremony includes the presentation of the colors by the Plant City High School JROTC, a club the Legion sponsors. The ceremony will feature guest speaker Eunice Butts, who will talk about ways to honor veterans. The Legion also will ceremoniously burn the names of deceased veterans. It acquired the names from local funeral homes.
Friends and family of fallen veterans are welcome to bring floral arrangements and wreaths to the event. The arrangements will be brought out as veterans’ names are called.
For family members who are unable to attend the ceremony, the Legion requests floral arrangements be dropped off by 10:30 a.m. the day of the ceremony. The flowers can be picked up after the ceremony or can be donated.
The ceremony will be followed by a grilled chicken lunch.
McGary served in the United States Air Force. The current post commander, Larry Gmytruk, served in the United States Army Infantry.
“For us, it’s honoring the veterans that have passed on either from natural causes or killed in action,” Gmytruk said.
The commanders encourage families of veterans to come.
“The guys that are serving now, their families go through hardships too,” Gmytruk said. “We try to help everybody.”
Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.
