Page 2 - Florida Sentinel 11-9-18

Local
On Veterans Day, Hillsborough County Pays Tribute With Annual Ceremony And Operation: REVEILLE
Veterans Memorial Park hosts ceremony and home- less vets housing initiative
Veterans Day is a time to thank the many men and women who served our coun- try in the armed forces. This year, Hillsborough County’s traditional salute also com- bines an effort to make a dif- ference in the lives of more than two dozen veterans by finding them a permanent place to call home.
Hillsborough County Con- sumer & Veterans Services and the Veterans Council of Hillsborough County will host the 54th Annual Veterans Day Tribute on Sunday, Nov. 11, at 10 a. m. The event will take place at Veterans Memo- rial Park and Rear Admiral LeRoy Collins, Jr. Veterans Museum, 3602 U. S. 301 N., Tampa.
In addition, multiple agen- cies will come together at the Veterans Resource Center at the park for Operation: REVEILLE, a partnership spearheaded by the Tampa Hillsborough Homeless Ini- tiative (THHI) to place home- less veterans into ready-to-move-into apart- ments before the sun sets on the day.
54th Annual Veterans Day Tribute – 10 a. m.
The event will honor active and former U. S. military serv- ice members from all branches of service during a ceremony that will include pa- triotic music, guest speakers, and presentations. Admission
and parking for the park and museum are free. Bleacher seating will be available; visi- tors are also welcome to bring lawn chairs.
For the second year in a row, the Veterans Day Na- tional Committee of the U. S. Department of Veterans Af- fairs has named Hillsborough County's Veterans Memorial Park and Rear Admiral LeRoy Collins, Jr. Veterans Museum to its official list of Regional Veterans Day Sites.
Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, the 2018 Vet- erans Day Tribute program includes:
• Guest speaker Col. Edward “Eddie” P. Phillips, Com- mander, 6th Mission Support Group, MacDill Air Force Base
• JROTC color guard, drill performances, and tributes from local high schools
• Rifle salute and taps
• Veterans Council Awards
• Light refreshments and so- cial hour
For more information about the 54th Annual Veter- ans Day Tribute or Veterans Memorial Park, visit HCFLGov.net, or call (813) 744-5349.
2018 Operation: REVEILLE – 8 a.m. to approximately 2 p. m.
Each year on Veterans Day, the Tampa/Hillsborough Continuum of Care works to find homes for homeless vet- erans through a program called Operation: REVEILLE.
This year, the program aims to present 25 veterans with keys to apartments that in- clude furnishings and house- hold goods.
The Tampa/Hillsborough County Continuum of Care is led by the Tampa Hillsbor- ough Homeless Initiative (THHI) and is comprised of Hillsborough County, the City of Tampa, and many other public agencies, faith-based organizations, housing part- ners, and nonprofit agencies.
The day begins with break- fast and one-on-one case management counseling with the selected veterans, who will be brought to the park by the County’s Sunshine Line trans- portation service.
Following the Veterans Day Tribute ceremony, Oper- ation: REVEILLE partici- pants will attend a workshop to learn how to transition suc- cessfully into permanent housing, and meet with Veter- ans Service Officers to access other programs and benefits.
The afternoon concludes with matching the veterans with housing choices; some participants will be able to go from the park straight to their new homes.
THHI’s February 2018 Point-In-Time Count identi- fied 171 veterans who were ei- ther living on the streets, or in temporary shelters in Hills- borough County. Since Oper- ation: REVEILLE began in 2014, THHI reports that 539 veterans have been placed in permanent, supportive hous- ing.
Students And Staff To Honor Veterans Throughout
The District On Friday
Students and staff in schools across Hillsborough County will recognize veterans and honor active duty military at several events on Friday. In addition, all Hillsborough County Public Schools will be closed on Monday, November 12, in honor of Veterans Day. Some of the activities planned are:
Friday, November 9, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. or 12:30 - 2:30 p. m. - Take a Veteran to School Day – Eisenhower Middle School is partnering with the community to pro- mote patriotism and link vet- erans of all ages with the 6th grade Social Studies classes. They are inviting veterans and active duty military from the community and school family to share stories of their mili- tary service with students throughout the day.
Eisenhower Middle School is named in honor of five-star General Dwight D. Eisen- hower, the 34th President of the United States. Some of the service members expected to come out include: Dr. Brian Frank (United States Marine Corps), Sergio Franco (United States Army Master Sergeant), and Jim Waur- ishukj (Colonel, United States Air Force). Eisenhower
Middle School is located at 7620 Old Big Bend Rd., Gib- sonton.
Friday, November 9, 2 p.m. – Veterans Day As- sembly - Sgt. Paul R. Smith Middle School is excited to have Medal of Honor Recipi- ent Gary Beikirch speak to students and faculty. Current, retired or former military fam- ily members of students are also invited to come for the as- sembly where the school will be awarding Student Medals of Honor for the first time to students nominated by their teachers.
The school is named in honor of the late Sgt. Paul R. Smith, a Tampa native and the recipient of the first Medal of Honor awarded for heroism during Operation Iraqi Free- dom. Sgt. Paul R. Smith Mid- dle School is located at 14303 Citrus Pointe Dr., Tampa.
Friday, November 9, 8- 9a.m.or9-10a.m.–Stu- dent-led Veterans Day event – Jackson Elementary 5th graders will lead this event, presenting poems they wrote about what freedom means to them and why it is important to honor veterans.
Jackson Elementary is lo- cated at 502 E. Gilchrist, Plant City.
PAGE 2-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2018