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On Memorial Day, Sun City Center paid tribute to the country’s fallen military heroes with a solemn ceremony that brought together Veterans, local officials and community members to honor

those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

The event, held at the Sun City Community Center King’s Point Veterans theater, was organized by the Sun City Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America and featured James A.

Haley Veterans’ Hospital Executive Director David Dunning as the keynote speaker. The program was led by retired Commander Bill Kirkpatrick, a Veteran of the Navy and President of the SCC

MOAA Chapter and accompanied by numerous organizations and participants gathered for the sole purpose of honoring America’s fallen heroes, many of whom were family and close friends of the

attendees. 

The ceremony opened with Posting of the Colors by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard, followed by a welcome and introduction of honored guests, including Grand Marshal Bill

Hodges, an Air Force veteran and host of Sun City Radio and Veterans Corner Radio podcast, MarDee Buchman the Hillsborough Field Representative for Congressman Vern Buchanan, 16th District

of Florida and District 4 County Commissioner Michael Owen. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by retired Lt. Col. Gordon Basset, a USAF Veteran and the National Anthem was led by Rev. Jeff

Sheffield, the music director at Trinity Baptist Church.

As the keynote speaker, Executive Director Dunning emphasized the importance of remembering and honoring those who have served. With over 30 years of experience in the Army, not only

honoring, but also celebrating the legacies of fallen heroes has remained at the forefront of his mind. He shared impact of four significant losses from his time in the Army with the

audience of the ceremony, pausing to reflect on the effect each person made on his life.

“In the spirit of Memorial Day, I recognize that one of the best ways to honor our fallen heroes is by serving the living with compassion and dedication,” said Dunning during his speech.

“This day serves as a reminder: They did not fail us. We will not fail them.”

Each branch of service was commemorated by the Trinity Chapter Baptist Church choir, as Veterans stood, saluted and sang along to their respective branch’s songs. A touching homage was paid

to Veterans from the community that had gone to rest in the past year with a Roll Call of Departed Comrades accompanied by the Living Flag Tribute.

The Sun City Center Memorial Day Ceremony stands as a testament to the deep respect and enduring gratitude the community holds for its Veterans. The Community Hall at Sun City Center

features a Veterans Memorial, with a six-foot-tall bronze eagle sculpture, a sculpture of a Belgian Malinois war dog named Warlock and a three-foot aluminum dog tag that states “Duty, Honor,

Country”. Flags of each service and a POW/MIA flag are flown year-round while the perimeter wall states, “Freedom is Not Free” and “Grateful Community Remembers Those Who Ensured Our

Freedom.