Hundreds filled the amphitheater at Sarasota National Cemetery to remember their loved ones who died in active service or are missing in action, at the cemetery's annual Memorial Day Tribute on May 27.
The tribute included spoken vignettes by the event’s Gold Star families, who were its stage guests. Akiel Reyes Melendez, a top-ranking cadet at Sarasota Military Academy, offered an opening speech as the event's master of ceremonies.
“Memorial Day is different from other military days of acknowledgement,” Melendez said during his speech. “Veterans Day honors veterans for the time they served in uniform. Armed Forces Day celebrates those in active duty. Memorial Day was established exclusively to honor and remember the men and women who died in service to our country, and did not live to be honored the other days of the year.”
It also featured performances by recording artist Lindsay Graham and a trio of musicians, Jae Williams, Kregg Edwards and Michael Shultz.
The placement of flags on each grave in the cemetery by Flags For Fallen Vets preceded the ceremony. Paul Sciacca Jr., whose father Paul Sciacca was a veteran of the Vietnam War, said he appreciated the gesture.
“They sacrificed a lot for us,” he said. “I love my dad a lot.”
“I don’t want people to forget that we need to live our dreams because they gave theirs,” said Yolanda Mercado, a Gold Star parent who spoke at the event.
Erin Masciulli and 15-year-old Aly Miller place a flag in the ground.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Danelle and Braylon McCracken take a moment to honor each service member as they place flags at the graves.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Jim Currie meets Ron Johnson.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Litton, Greenly, Morgan, and Fallon Gabrielson help make sure there is a flag at each grave.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Emma Masciulli helps Jim Currie with the flags, as does Phala Amey.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Paul Sciacca, Jr. remembers his father, Paul Sciacca, a Vietnam veteran.
Photo by Ian Swaby
The color guard initiates the ceremony.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Bernie Regan and Mike MacDonald bow their heads in prayer.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Attendees fill out the auditorium.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Cemetery Director Richard Wallace speaks at the podium.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Linda Russo, Sandy Bellomo, and Hope Byrns sing the Star Spangled Banner.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Tribute Chair Renée James Gilmore addresses the audience.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Sarasota Military Academy cadet Akiel Reyes Melendez speaks at the podium.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Diane Wallace and Jim Wallace applaud a speaker.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Gold Star daughter Addy Hayes recites the poem "I am the American Flag."
Photo by Ian Swaby
Englewood's Mitch and Shannon Mesenburg speak in honor of their son, Senior Airman XinHua Mesenburg.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Joel and Deb Watson, and Fran Perkins, watch the event.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Gold Star parents Mitch and Shannon Mesenburg and Yolanda Mercado listen to a performance of "Amazing Grace."
Photo by Ian Swaby
Yolanda Mercado speaks in honor of her son Jalfred D. Vaquerano, alongside Sarasota Military Academy cadet Raphael Fabyanic.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Kim and Steven Hayes speak in honor of Steven Taylor Hayes, alongside Sarasota Military Academy cadet Raphael Fabyanic.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Gold Star parents Kathy and Steve Combs take a moment of silence as they are presented with the Wreath of Remembrance in honor of their son, Lt. Steven Combs Jr.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Recording artist Lindsey Graham sings "God Bless the U.S.A."
Photo by Ian Swaby
Sarasota Military Academy cadet Raphael Fabyanic, Tribute Chair Renée James Gilmore, and Sarasota Military Academy cadet Akiel Reyes Melendez talk with one another.
Photo by Ian Swaby
The event's Gold Star families are bordered on each side by Sarasota Military Academy cadets Raphael Fabyanic and Akiel Reyes Melendez.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Flags sit at the graves throughout Sarasota Memorial Cemetery.
Ian Swaby is the Sarasota neighbors writer for the Observer. Ian is a Florida State University graduate of Editing, Writing, and Media and previously worked in the publishing industry in the Cayman Islands.
