- November 1, 2024
Loading
The playful rivalries between U.S. military branches were set aside on Saturday, Aug. 18, to honor all Flagler County Vietnam War and Vietnam era veterans during a ceremony hosted at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8696.
Veterans and their spouses received pins honoring their service to the war that had over 58,000 American solider casualties.
As the guest speaker, Melvin Morris, of Port St. John, received a standing ovation after he spoke of the real reason receiving the Congressional Medal of Honor in 2014 from then-President Barack Obama matters to him.
"When people receive that award, someone is paying the ultimate sacrifice. Those are the real heroes," Morris said. "When I received the Congressional Medal of Honor, they never tell you how many people died that day; they'll tell you about what I did, but a lot of people gave their lives for me to stand here with this Congressional Medal of Honor. So, I wear this Congressional Medal of Honor for all those that gave their lives. They gave the ultimate sacrifice; those are the ones we should stand here and remember. ... So, I represent them, and I do my best to do that every day — every single day."
Visit http://www.vfw8696.com or call 446-8696 to contact the VFW Post 8686 in Palm Coast.