To have brick in Pathway for July 4th, 2009 contact Joan Jones (352) 473-5450 or (904) 472-7191 or Elsie Mills (352) 473-9545 

Deadline for ordering a brick for the July 4th, 2009 ceremoney is June 1st, 2009

******************************************

Veteran's Memorial Pathway

     The Garden Club of the Lakes, FFGC has been busy since January 2005 with a “dream come true” for our President Joan Jones (2003-2005 and 2006-2007) who woke up with a new project on her mind for the club to do. After taking it before the Club and Board, She then went to the City Council of Keystone Heights meeting, which also voted for it 100% . It is called the “Veterans Memorial Pathway”. 

Phase #1: (November 2004 - July 4, 2005)

     The pathway with the help of the Keystone employers (field) was poured, 8 Crepe Myrtle Trees Donated by Shadowlawn Nurseries in Penney Farms was planted, along with Bonnies Nursery of Middleburg who donated 2 large concrete benches to be set up between the 8 trees . To begin the program we initiated a theme “Buy a brick for a Vet”. The Veteran can be active duty, retired, passed on etc. We have bricks in the pathway as far Canada, Australia and England and all over the USA. We planted red, white and blue flowers in the 8ft. brick boxes.

     Our first official ceremony was held July 4, 2005 with approximately 250 folks on hand to Honor and Salute our Veterans. The bricks can be bought for $35 each 3-4 lines of engraving, 18 letters including spaces per line, (name ,rank, service related, years of service, which war/s the Vet fought in, maybe the Vet received the Purple Heart or Medal of Honor, etc.) You can contact            

Bricks that are in the Pathway

2 Benchs that were donated by Bonnie's nursery.

Flowers at the Pathway

Phase #2: (July 5, 2005 - November 11, 2005)

     Our plans were to have a monument put at the beginning of the pathway. We were given a large donation from Century 21 Realty in Keystone Heights so we decided that we would get other businesses to donate, which they did.        Joan designed the Granite Monument, and had it made by Bonnie’s Memorials of Starke and on Veterans Day (November 11, 2005) we dedicated it to the City and Community. The City of Keystone Heights recognized the Garden Club of the Lakes, FFGC, for their work and another proclamation was given to our past President, Joan Jones for her active part in the Veterans Memorial Pathway and other interests around the area. During this phase we also planted some sod where needed, and installed a 6 flag - flag pole that Joan recycled from the Am vets Post #86 in Keystone Heights, the city picked it up and set it up at the pathway. Also 2 small planter boxes were added to the area.

Veterans Memorial Monument

Phase #3: (November 12, 2005 - July 4, 2006)

     We started this phase out by putting in 9 benches in the park area behind the flag pole, put new summer plants (red, white, and blue), kept the pathway area cut and trimmed, and made sure our flags were always taken care of.

     Our July 4th ceremony was well attended with our finale being a “Flyover” by Capt. Bob Oehl, Retired USAF at the controls of a WW2 L4J Aircraft, owned by Lt. Susan King, of the C.A.P. in Gainesville. We also honored Lt. King’s mother, Betty Kay with an American Flag in honor of her husband Anthony Kay WW2 Vet. Bob and Susan have promised that anytime we want the “Flyover” we have it. This is their way of saluting and honoring our Veterans and we thank them for that. 

Phase #4: (July 4, 2006 - November 11, 2006)

     This phase was slow in getting started because of the very hot weather we were unable to do much. We did get the concrete slabs put under the 9 benches in the park area. The City (field employees did that big job for us). We refurbished all the planter boxes with the (red, white and blue flowers), we did keep the area mowed, trimmed ad watered. Husbands of the committee members have helped when and where ever we needed them throughout all the phases, of which we are grateful. Once again we had our ‘Flyover” with Capt. Bob Oehl, Retired USAF at the controls of the WW2 aircraft. At this Ceremony on Veterans Day November 11, 2006 we had a special Guest of Honor , Capt. Duane E. Dewey, USMC Retired, who was in the Korean War and a recipient of the Medal of Honor presented to him by President Ike Eisenhower. He and his wife, Bertha are from Irons Michigan they are friends of Joan and her husband Larry, also relatives of Jennie and JG Broome (Jeannie works for the City of Keystone Heights). Our program was we were told the BEST yet with over 160 attending along with the KHHS Band and Chorus. There will be a list of all our participants in a future addition to our website, also a list of all Veterans who have been honored with an engraved brick in our Pathway.  

Placing of ther Wreath at Ceramony

Phase #5: (November 12, 2006 - July 4, 2007)

Our Veterans Memorial Pathway on July 4, 2007 was one of the best, although it stormed with lots of rain, wind etc... we were blessed with an hour of no rain or storms.
Our ceremony started out with the Color Guard from 631^st Maintenance Co., of Starke (Nat. Guard) under direction of Joshua Ammarito who posted the colors. Laying of the Wreath was done by Commander Joe Haire of American Legion Post #202 escorted by Past President George E. Wheeler of the Auxiliary. At that time we had a moment of silence to honor 3 of our Veterans who passed away in the last couple of months Sgt. Maj. Ray Wingate, Ret. US Army WW2; Sgt. Bob Sabo, Sr., Ret. US Army WW2 and Elian Krugman-Kado, L39 Albatross Pilot.

Our Invocation was by Father Harold L. Ritchie of St. Anne's Episcopal Church in KH and all Patriotic songs were sung by Gayle Plant, prior USMC also President of Women's Marines Assoc., Chapter FL-7. Our Speakers were Mr. Tony Brown, KH City Council Member, Chereese Stewart, Clay County Commissioner Dist IV, and Lt. Col. Steven Thompson, Chaplain of the 125th Fighter Wing (ANG) Jacksonville, Fla. who had recently returned from Iraq.
Our most precious part of the ceremony is the Reading of the Names of all Veterans who had a brick bought for them during Phase #5 by our new President, Jackie Host. Once again our Veterans were honored with a 3 volley salute by Sgt. David Kuntz and his 1^st . Inf. Co., with their 1848 Civil War Cannon named "Sheila".

The entertainment was by "Miss Marie's Kids" who inspired the audience with their wonderful music and singing of patriotic songs. Our final Salute and Honor to our Veterans had to be done in the beginning because of a storm coming in, it was the ever fantastic Fly-Over by, this time, Lt. Susan King, CAP, Gainesville, flying her WW2, L4J aircraft with Capt Bob Oehl, Ret. USAF sitting in the back seat.

Our next ceremony will be for Phase #6 on Monday, November 12th at 11 am at the Keystone Heights Cemetery on SR100, approx. l mile west of KH traffic light.
We hope everyone will come and join us on this very historic day when everyone should Honor and Salute our VETERANS.

NOTE OF INTEREST -- Our Veterans Memorial Pathway is not for making money, but for honoring our Veterans of all Wars, from all nations and all walks of life. Our engraved bricks can be purchased for a donation of $35 for 3-4 lines of l8 characters, l or 2 medals can be engraved onto the brick at no extra charge....we also now have T-Shirts with the beautiful photo of the VMP on them. They can be had for a donation of $10 for small to X-Large, $12 for 2XL to 3XL and $14 for all larger sizes....we will also have post cards of the VMP - support the VMP so that we can further do projects for this fantastic addition to the beautification of our local cemetery

 This past Phase #6 we bought a sprinkling system for the pathway, new flags, and plants. All monies brought in go into the VMP Fund Acct. The ladies from the Garden Club of the Lakes, FFGC on the VMP committee work on the pathway area each week by couples so it is well taken care of.

.

                 ******************************************************************************************

      Veterans Day Ceremony

 November 11, 2008

David Kuntz and 1st Inf. Co with 1848 Civil War Cannon "Sheila"

KHHS Chorus Directed by Mr. Charles Propper, Retired St. Chief, US Navy

GCL, VMP Chairman Joan Jones is Master of Ceremonies

Members of DAR Attended

Connor Blackley sings the National Anthem

Laying of the Wreath

Cmdr. Joe Toth of American Legion Post #202 escorted by Aux. Pres. Mickey Tristani

Kyleigh Hill sings "God Bless America"

Gary Hampton, Pres. of the Rolling Thunder, Chapter #3 gave a moving speech and his group donated a brick to the POW/MIA

Lt. Col. Noel Thomas, Ret. U.S. Army also gave a moving speech.

Pastor Jason Nettles, Gadara Missionary Baptast Church gave the Invocation                     and Inspirational Talk

Members of the Rolling Thunder representing each branch of the service on the pathway

Entire Rolling Thunder group in front of Pathway Memorial

Friends and family of Major Alan Greg Rodgers - KIA Iraq

Major Rodgers Aunt (seated on right) donated a brick in his honor

Garden Club Members (standing) Eveylyn Henderson, Sharon Knapp, Buddy King, Cheryl King (Sitting) Elsie Mills and Lynda Carter

Ashley and Tyler Brown (Mother/Member Celeste Brown standing behind them) handed out over 60 patriotic cards and got people to sign them and send messages to our troops in Iraq!

On behalf of Garden Club, President Jackie Host gives Joan Jones a dozen red roses for her outstanding service to the club and community

***********************************

Our 4th of July Celebration to honor our Vetrans was well attented with a good program