Ducks and other feathered creatures took flight en masse from Lake Mira Mar as a seven-man contingent from the Veterans’ Memorial Park Honor Guard fired a 21-gun salute Thursday morning to honor fallen peace officers across our nation. As ominous clouds threatened storms, Lt. Commander Fran Pagliarulo (U.S. Navy Ret.), in his crisp white dress uniform, invited the assemblage to join him in singing the Star Spangled Banner.
“I was driving by and decided to stop to honor our fallen police officers. They never get enough recognition,” said Pam Hendrickson, who lives in the Village of Orange Blossom Gardens.
May 15 is the annual National Peace Officers Memorial Day, and color guards from the retired N.Y.P.D. group and the Jewish War Veterans from The Villages led the ceremonies. Representatives from all branches of our military, and the PucPuggy Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution brought their colors.
Villager Larry Recla, who served as a chaplain in New York City during the World Trade Center tragedy, addressed the crowd, “There are those who choose to wear the shield to make this a safer, better world,” Recla said. “It doesn’t matter the shape or the style of the shield they wore — it mattered that they served. We ask whenever you hear the wail of sirens to please remember the fallen peace officers who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty.” Recla continues his ministry as chaplain for Veterans Memorial Park, for the Wildwood Police Department and St. Francis Episcopal Church in Bushnell.
Lady Lake Police Chief Chris McKinstry began his talk with the number 42. “Forty two,” he said. “That is the number of law enforcement officers who have died on the job in America to date this year; and there have been 21,000 who have lost their lives since our country was founded. There is a special unity which ties all of us together,” McKinstry continued, glancing over at the rows of officers from our tri-county Sheriffs’ Offices; local police and public safety departments. “Being a cop is not WHO you are, it is WHAT you are. Whether it is crime prevention, apprehending criminals, domestic violence, an airplane crash scene or a natural disaster, the law enforcement officer is out there protecting our freedoms and keeping our communities safe.” McKinstry quoted from John 15, verse 13: Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. “We are here today to make a special tribute to law enforcement officers’ amazing acts of heroism… and to all those who made the ultimate sacrifice.”
The Villages retired NYPD group and the Lady Lake Police Department placed wreaths at the center of the memorial and Reno Pietrantoni (U.S.Army Ret.) sang a rich rendition of God Bless America to end the hour-long ceremonies.
This coming Saturday, May 17, is Armed Forces Day, and at 10 a.m., there will be a ceremony at the Villages Memorial Park to honor our troops. Richard Simpson, VMP President/Commander thanked members of The Villages Rose Club for providing the beautiful flowers and encouraged people to buy memorial bricks in honor of loved ones who have served our country.
