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Saluting Our Veterans

Tribune photo by KEVIN HOWE

More than 100 Little Manatee Springs residents and their families honored nearly 150 current and past residents who had served in the Armed Forces in the community's third annual Memorial Day program.

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By JOHN CEBALLOS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 24, 2008

WIMAUMA - More than a week before Memorial Day, when the nation honors the men and women who have died in military service, past and present members of the U.S. Armed Forces were celebrated in South Shore.

On May 17, Little Manatee Springs hosted its third annual Armed Forces-Memorial Day-Veterans Day program.

"We have a lot of residents who are veterans, and this is just a small way in which we can honor them and show them our appreciation every year," said Cindy Ploof, who was the event's mistress of ceremonies.

Little Manatee Springs is a 55-and-older manufactured home community, and the ceremony took place in its clubhouse, 4337 Hamlin Way.

Created in 1949, Armed Forces Day is celebrated the third Saturday of May.

Each branch of the military had its day of recognition before former Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced the creation of Armed Forces Day.

Though the intention was to replace the individual Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Coast Guard days, members of each branch still observe those days separately.

Nevertheless, they came together when more than 100 Little Manatee Springs residents and their families honored nearly 150 current and past residents who had served in the armed forces.

The program started with the men marching to the Glenn Miller Orchestra's "St. Louis Blues March." Ploof said that version of the song was chosen because Miller was the commander of the Army Air Force Band from 1942-44.

The Pledge of Allegiance and "The Star-Spangled Banner," led by Desert Storm veteran Rick Curtis, followed before the introduction of the day's special guests - Army Sgts. Vincent and Tashia Floyd, who have been married for three years and are stationed at Fort Stewart, Ga.

Vincent Floyd's mother is a mail carrier for Little Manatee Springs, and the couple agreed to attend the ceremony during their visit to Florida.

"It was a great honor to be invited," Vincent Floyd said. "It was a very touching ceremony, and we really appreciated everything they did today."

Little Manatee Springs shared the sentiment as Ploof taught everyone in attendance the military gratitude sign.

A hand is placed over the heart as though saying the Pledge of Allegiance. Then, the hand is pulled down and out, bending at the elbow, stopping for a moment at about the belly button with the hand flat, palm up, angled toward the person you're thanking.

"It's about recognizing their service and their sacrifice," Ploof said. "It's about saying 'Thank you from the bottom of my heart.'

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The Floyds were also presented with a commemorative plaque before Ploof read the names of the men and women serving in the armed forces who are family members of Little Manatee residents.

"A lot of our veterans are snowbirds who have already gone back up north for the year, but we still wanted to honor them," Ploof said after reading names of veterans.

JoAnne Herold, secretary of the Little Manatee Springs activities committee, presented each veteran with an American Blessings Mix, a small bag of patriotic-themed trail mix.

"They were our neighbors, our friends, and we loved them all," Ploof said.

After Ploof read the names of 15 deceased Little Manatee Springs veterans, Herold presented the nine widows in attendance with a Bible.

The ceremony closed with everyone taking part in a grand march while "God Bless America" played.

"After today, I think it's very clear that patriotism is alive and well in Little Manatee Springs," Ploof said.

Reporter John Ceballos can be reached at (813) 865-1555 or jceballos@tampatrib.com.

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