Each morning, the American flag is raised at JEA headquarters along Church Street — and once a year, the ceremony is performed to the playing of "The Star-Spangled Banner."
That was the program Wednesday, when the Navy Band Southeast provided the prelude to the public utility's 5th Annual Military Appreciation Day.
"Military veterans are an integral part of our community and of JEA," said Karl Rau, JEA manager of procurement services.
Dan McCarthy, former City Military Affairs and Veterans Services Division director and former chief assistant state attorney for the 4th Judicial Circuit, was invited to address the veterans and JEA employees who gathered in the courtyard.
McCarthy, a retired U.S. Navy captain, is the director of special projects for Wounded Warrior Project, a national nonprofit that provides support to military personnel injured during their tour of duty.
Referring to lower temperatures and a brisk wind blowing across the courtyard, he asked those assembled to think about what the temperature was in Afghanistan and about the men and women who are serving there in the armed forces.
"They are worried about freedom and about protecting us. They would be damn glad to know we are standing here thinking about Veterans Day this morning," McCarthy said.
The holiday and Wounded Warrior Project share the mission to honor and empower the men and women who have worn American uniforms and served in a war, suffered the consequences and bear the scars, he said.
"I'm around it every day. I see men and women who didn't lose their arms and legs, they gave their arms and legs to the cause of freedom. Some of them gave their eyesight. They carry the scars of war every day because they agreed to serve," said McCarthy.
He commented on how few members of the community, 0.4 percent, volunteer to put their lives on the line by serving in combat zones.
"I don't know if many Americans understand that 99.6 percent of us get up every day and enjoy the blessings of liberty because four-tenths of 1 percent of this community puts on a uniform and body armor and ventures into harm's way. When they go into harm's way, they get hurt. They bear the visible and the invisible scars of war. When they come home, we need to show that we want them to come back to this country and rejoin us. Let them enjoy the blessings of liberty they helped preserve," said McCarthy.
Jim Dickenson, JEA senior adviser, also showed thanks.
"I want to thank all the veterans that work with us here at JEA. We have employees that are in the reserves that get called to active duty. We certainly want to honor them and we want to be an organization that honors and empowers our veterans," Dickenson said.
The salute to veterans continues 9 a.m. Friday with a job fair for former military personnel at the Osborn Center. Also planned, the annual Veterans Day Parade begins at 11:01 a.m. Monday and will wind along Downtown streets between the Times-Union Center and the Sports Complex.
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