Patterson Foundation honors veterans with weekend summit

More than 20 Army recruits from Sarasota are preparing to take an oath of enlistment Saturday, Nov. 15, during the Celebrate Service and Sacrifice ceremony in Patriot Plaza at Sarasota National Cemetery.

“That’s going to be quite special because these people who are signing up to go into the Army are going to — in front of 2,500 people — be sworn in with their families there,” said Debra Jacobs, president and CEO of the Patterson Foundation. “It should be quite touching. The whole experience should give you either goosebumps or a tear.”

The ceremony is part of the Veterans Legacy Summit that kicks off Friday, Nov. 14, with an art symposium featuring artists and photojournalists who will share stories behind the artwork at Patriot Plaza.

The Patterson Foundation and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration partnered to present the two-day conference of events designed to honor men and women who have served in the armed forces. Jacobs said that the Celebrate Service and Sacrifice ceremony is the “bow” on the summit that will wrap up the capstone project for the Patterson Foundation military initiative.

New York Times best-selling author Wes Moore, award-winning journalist Soledad O’Brien, Forever Miss Americas and the West Point Band are all scheduled to make appearances during the summit. Workshops and panels will also examine issues that pertain to veterans and their services.

IF YOU GO
When: Nov. 14 to 15

Where: Various locations in Sarasota

Admission: Free, but registration is required.

Info: To register, visit onlineregistrationcenter.com/veteranslegacysummit