by David Ball
Staff Writer
In Jacksonville, where one in four residents has served in the military, the Veteran’s Day holiday is more than just a day on a calendar. Here, the commemoration and fanfare lasts more than two weeks and includes highlights like the Sea & Sky Spectacular, the Veteran’s Day Parade Downtown and the annual Military Appreciation Luncheon.
Tuesday’s luncheon, hosted by the councils of the Greater Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, drew close to 1,000 local military personnel, elected officials and guests who heard from keynote speaker Navy Rear Adm. Michael Vitale and honored the noble work done, and still being done, by the men and women in uniform.
It’s always a meaningful event for Dan McCarthy, director of the City’s Veterans and Military Affairs Office, but even more so this year.
“My son is over in the Persian Gulf right now, so I can really understand what the family members are going through,” said McCarthy, who last saw his son in July and is anxiously awaiting his return before the Christmas holiday.
“This is important, especially in a day and age when the nation will end its bloodiest year in Iraq,” he continued. “Our office is busy all year, but these two weeks, and this luncheon in particular, is to honor and show respect to the men and women that have served our country.”
Mayor John Peyton was one of the first speakers to address the crowd and called Jacksonville’s military population “an important dimension of our community.
“We are so fortunate to have a city that recognizes and appreciates its military presence,” he added.
Command Master Chief Al Rivera, who brought a table full of his submarine crew from the USS Florida at Kings Bay, agreed.
“It’s fantastic,” said Rivera. “On the heels of Veteran’s Day, the outreach from the community has always been outstanding.”
Perhaps the best example of community support came from Naval Reserve officer Jon Singleton, who after 10 years thought his service was complete and that he could focus on his career with Watson Realty. However, his life dramatically changed when he was recently called up to spend 12 months in Afghanistan.
Singleton said the outpouring of support in the form of community donations and help at home, along with the support and understanding of his employer, made all the difference.
“I was the top producer for the month when I left, and I was the top producer when I came back,” he said. “Businesses, when you do support your guardsmen or your reservists, you do get a more dedicated employee and you generate a lot of good will.”