Gov. Rick Scott visited The Villages on Friday to pay tribute to veterans and remember those who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001.
Joining him on stage at Eisenhower Regional Recreation Center were Deputy Executive Director of Florida Department of Veterans Affairs Alfred Cartier, retired Army Chaplain Lt. Col. Don Doggett, and Brigadier General and Commander of the Florida Air National Guard James O. Eifert.
The governor, who is a Navy veteran, saluted veterans and acknowledged that our “freedoms are paid for by the sacrifice” of those who serve, especially referring to the fallen heroes of 9/11.
The governor then presented medals bearing the seal of Florida on one side and five seals representing the five branches of the military on the other.
Scott singled out two World War II veterans, Jesse Dilks of the Village of Orange Blossom Gardens and Dorothy Baggett of the Village of Rio Grande, for their courageous efforts and involvement in the war.
Baggett served as an army nurse in a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital and aided U.S. troops in Germany. She also helped treat those liberated from the Dachau concentration camp.
Dilks served in the Army Air Corps, serving in the Pacific Theater. Dilks has participated in Villages Honor Flight for three years and recently was part of a Flightless Honor Flight.
After remarking both veterans’ fearless achievements, Scott stepped down from the stage to award Baggett and Dilks, who both sat in the front row, with their medals.
“This is wonderful, more than I expected, and I’m so glad,” said Baggett.
Dilks was humbled and thankful as he also explained that the other veterans in the room had also sacrificed.
Army veteran Ron Kaissling, who is a member of Villages Honor Flight, had a get-well card signed by the governor for his daughter, Margot Gaston, who is hospitalized and in critical condition. She is also close friends with the governor’s niece.
Among the many veterans assembled was a certain trio of close friends who lied about their ages to serve in the military. Joe Weber of Village of Hacienda North, Jerry Corbett of Del Webb, and Al Spinks of the Village of Glenview, were only 16 (Weber and Corbett) and 14 (Spinks) when they enlisted in the military.
Spinks served in the Navy during World War II, Weber served in the Navy during the Korean War, and Corbett served as a Coast Guard during the Korean War.
