Page 11 - Florida Sentinel 5-28-21

Feature
Veterans Post To Host 26th Annual Memorial Day Program
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
For more than 25 years, local veteran’s organizations have placed flags on the graves of fallen soldiers. Led by Sgt. Melvin Collins, the group began with 1,100 flags and has watched that num- ber increase to more than 2,500.
This year will be no ex- ception as volunteers meet on Saturday, May 29, 2021, at 7:30 a.m., at the Rest Haven Memorial Park Ceme- tery, 4615 E. Hanna Avenue, to place the flags on the graves. They will be joined by the American Legion, Buffalo Soldiers, Boy Scouts of America, Humana Insurance Company, family members, friends, other organizations and volunteers.
Sgt. Collins served hon- orably in Viet Nam and the things he saw remains with him to this day. Recalling the countless deaths he said, ‘I was there and remember when you gave your all. We want your loved ones to know they are not forgotten. We are asking family mem- bers, neighbors, and friends to come out and help us honor our fallen veterans who served or who gave their all for our country to remain free.
“We do this to say, friends, I honor all of you. This is why we celebrate Me- morial Day.”
Sgt. Collins said he no- ticed several years ago, that people were going to the larger cemeteries placing the flags. But, no one was putting them on the smaller cemeter- ies.
Sgt. Collins’ family lost two members in the same month. His brother-in-law, James Bell, died on May 1, 1967. Michael Collins, his nephew who was like a brother, died on May 30, 1967. He recalled having been told about his brother- in-law, but he didn’t find out about his nephew until he ar- rived home.
“I was coming home and I saw them putting a flag-
SGT. MELVIN COLLINS
covered coffin on the air- plane. I saluted and kept going, but I saw that same coffin every time I changed airplanes.
“It wasn’t until the next morning, that I found out it was Michael. We were very close and grew up together, we were only 2 years apart in age. We see movies with John Wayne and we al- ways win, but war is horri- ble.”
He also recalls holding his Sergeant in is arms as he died after being shot in the back of the head.
“We were all strangers, but when we were in Viet Nam, we became family, we were there for each other, sometimes to the end.”
On Monday, May 31st, the group will gather for the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) Post 10140 for the An- nual Memorial Day Program. The program will begin at 10 a.m.
A native of Tampa, Sgt. Collins attended Middleton High School, where he met his future wife, Delphine. They have been married for nearly 59 years.
After graduation, Collins attended FAMU with a de- gree in Music. He served two years in the military before developing problems with his lungs.
Collins then worked as a Certified Engineer for Florida Steel before retiring.
About The Speaker
Orlando Gudes, Chair- man of the Tampa City Council and District 5 repre- sentative, will serve as this
COUNCILMAN ORLANDO GUDES
... Guest Speaker
year’s guest speaker. A Tampa native, Gudes was sworn into office on May 1, 2019.
He attended Bethune- Cookman College, Saint Leo University and National Louis University. He has an Associate of Arts Degree, Bachelor of Arts degree in
Applied Behavioral Science and a Master’s degree in Human Resource Manage- ment Administration.
Gudes obtained employ- ment with the Tampa Police Department and served the community for more than 26 years. He is also the Director of Operations at Gudes Fu- neral Home.
His commitment to his community also includes serving on the Charter Re- view Board, the East Tampa Community Revitalization Partnership CAC, Hillsbor- ough County Human Rela- tions Board, Neighborhood Accountability Board, and the NFL YET Center Board as well as many others.
He also has active mem- berships in a host of organi- zations, including Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.,
Florida Democratic Black Caucus (State Sgt. at Arms), Grand Krewe Libertalia, Pride of West Tampa Ma- sonic Lodge #1, and the Hillsborough County Branch NAACP.
He was inducted into the American Youth Football Hall of Fame. Gudes was honored as the National Youth Crime Watch of Amer- ica Officer of the Year, and received the Legacy Fellow- ship of Churches and Min- istries Community Service Award.
Gudes is the father of two daughters and has three grandchildren.
For additional informa- tion about the program or to volunteer, contact Sgt. Collins at (813) 293-8313, or David Harris at (813) 310-1653.
FRIDAY, MAY 28, 2021 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY PAGE 11-A