By Angie Toole
More than 300 flags are on display at the Mullet Festival Fairgrounds, honoring those who gave their lives in the service of their country.
The ninth annual Field of Valor, set up by the Niceville Exchange Club, recognizes those service members from the state of Florida who have fallen in combat since September 11, 2001. Some 396 flags are posted on the Niceville field, each with a tag bearing the name, photo and information about a Floridian who served in Iraq or Afghanistan who lost his or her life in action.
One local Gold Star mother, Karla Lacey, attended the Field of Valor this year, as she has in years past, to honor her son Sgt. First Class William Lacey of Laurel Hill. She works at Fort Walton Machining, which was one of the event sponsors this year, as it has in years past.
“He was brave beyond brave,” his father, John Lacey told Military Times just after his son’s death in Afghanistan. “He was out there in the middle of nowhere, in hell, and he kept doing it over and over and over … I’m just so proud of him.”
Visiting the Field of Valor hasn’t always been easy for the Lacey family. Karla has been attending for several years, because it has been a healing experience for her. She also volunteered to spend time as a docent at the field this year, as she has in previous years.
Tammy Summers, a Gold Star wife, also attended this year’s opening ceremonies. She took photos for her Facebook page of her husband, Sgt. First Class Severin W. Summers III, who died August 2, 2009 in Operation Enduring Freedom.
On the memorial page she has created to honor his memory, she posted: “I am honored and humbled to participate in putting out flags for our fallen military in my hometown of Niceville, FL. I placed Sev’s flag out and attached his biography. Remembering him today and always!”
Don “Pockets” Pardue was the chair for this year’s event. The former Marine admitted that honoring the military is a particular passion of his, especially honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Pardue served as the emcee for the opening ceremony, which included dignitaries including the mayors of Niceville and Valparaiso, as well as several military guests.
Emerald Coast Fisher House President Jim Yurack was a guest speaker Saturday. The local Fisher House receives funds from the annual fundraiser and works with the Niceville Exchange Club in fielding volunteers for the weeklong remembrance of fallen servicemembers.
Brig. Gen. Jeffrey T. Geraghty is the Commander, 96th Test Wing, Air Force Materiel Command, Eglin Air Force Base, made remarks about the importance of remembering the events of September 11, 2001, as well as the sacrifice of servicemembers in defeating the enemies who emerged from those events.
“Continue to use today, and days beyond just today as an opportunity to pay homage to those who died serving our nation and to acknowledge the immense debt we owe them,” Brig. General Geraghty said.
Lt. Col. Mike Loconsolo, commander of the 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Camp “Bull” Simons, Eglin Air Force Base, FL. A native of Brooklyn, NY, the remembrance of 9-11 has special significance for Lt. Col. Loconsolo, who was a cadet at West Point on that day, and whose father worked in the north tower of the Twin Towers in NYC. His father survived the attack, but the memory was life changing for his entire family, he told his audience, and he hopes Americans never forget that day.
Col. Ed Hubbard, former Vietnam-era prisoner of war and motivational speaker, talked about the importance of helping others in order to overcome adversity, an important message that aligns with the Exchange Club mission to make the community a better place to live.
Other members of the community helped make the event a touching memorial to the fallen.
Local Patriot Guard Riders arrived early at the field to pay their respects, accompanied by a Niceville Police Department escort.
Niceville firefighters brought a firetruck and displayed a large flag at the field.
Albert Sousa performed the National Anthem. Sousa, the principal broker/president of Apex Mortgage, is the son of Albert and Melinda Sousa. His father is the manager of the Walker Ace Hardware in Niceville.
Niceville High School JROTC students volunteered at the field on Saturday, and their honor guard posted the colors for the singing of the national anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance.
The Rocky Bayou Christian School Chamber Choir singers performed a medley of patriotic and military branch songs. Local Scout Tommy Roberts from Niceville High School played “Taps” on the bugle to close the ceremony.
The Exchange Club of Niceville is part of the National Exchange Club and has been active for 30 years. It is the only service organization exclusively serving communities in the U.S. More than 630 local clubs throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico provide individuals with opportunities to use their time and talents to benefit their local communities and the country as a whole. Exchange’s Core Values are family, community and country. Through the Programs of Service – Americanism, Community Service, and Youth Programs – members support activities that benefit youth, promote pride in our country, and honor military and public service providers, to name a few. Exchange’s National Project is the prevention of child abuse. To find out more about you can be a part of making the Niceville/Valparaiso/Bluewater Bay area a better place to live by joining the Niceville Exchange Club, attend the next meeting (held on the second and fourth Thursday at Café Bienville), or visit the website at nicevilleexchange.club and follow us on Facebook.
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