Bonita Springs honors missing, fallen veterans at annual Memorial Day ceremony

In front of the Bandshell at Riverside Park in Bonita Springs were a rifle, a helmet, and a pair of empty combat boots — the traditional military symbol of remembrance for fallen troops.

The items stood as a silent testimony to the grim truth underlying Memorial Day, one of the most somber of American holidays.

While the day was serious, the sunshine was bright, keeping most spectators in the shade of the park’s trees or under the large white tent set up on the lawn.

With rifle volleys, a release of doves, patriotic songs and speeches and a sea of United States flags, Bonita Springs paid tribute on Monday to the soldiers who died defending this country.

Hundreds gathered at 9 a.m. at the park for the ceremony organized by the city’s Veterans Advisory Committee, the Bonita Springs Fire Control and Rescue District, and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.

Bobby Hunter — a Lee County Sheriff's Office corporal, chairman of the Veterans Advisory Committee and principal organizer of the Memorial Day tribute — welcomed attendees and led them through the Pledge of Allegiance.

Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts of Troop 109 joined Hunter on stage. The Scouts also sold commemorative poppies, emblematic of the fallen.

The white doves released at the beginning of the ceremony circled the bandshell twice before flying off.

Bird wrangler Claudine Katz, of White Doves of Naples, said they are actually homing pigeons, and would return to their Golden Gate Estates headquarters before the ceremony was complete. 

Other participating organizations: American Legion Post 303, which led a salute to POWs and MIAs, Veteran of Foreign Wars Post 4254 and the Daughters of the American Revolution Barefoot Beach Chapter. Each group laid remembrance wreaths before the stage.

The Marine Corps League Detachment #063 provided a color guard, the riflemen led by Jim Buchholz who fired the salutes, and bugler Jerry Van Hecke, who blew a poignant rendition of “Taps.” 

Bonita Springs Mayor Peter Simmons, City Councilman Steve Slachta and American Legion Chaplain Jay Murphy all spoke. Murphy gave the invocation as a replacement speaker and his scheduled closing prayer.

Singer Colton James performed the National Anthem A capella and, backed by recorded tracks, “God Bless the USA.” 

Keynote speaker David Grossi, a Vietnam veteran of the U.S. Air Force, asked, “What does Memorial Day mean?"

"Does it still have relevance or is it just another three-day weekend?,” Grossi said.

To Grossi, it is the former. Soldiers must be honored for their sacrifice, he said.

"We fight for the prize of freedom," Grossi said.

American Legion Post Commander Adam Prentki III said Memorial Day is for both civilians and U.S. military members. 

“Today is about the living as well, the families, the mothers and fathers whose hearts are heavy, knowing their child laid down his life so we could be free," said Prentki.

Riverside Park contains a number of year-round memorials to fallen service men and women.

Attendees at Monday's event sat in front of a large plaque in honor of veterans. About 100 American flags turned the brick walkway into the "Aisle of Flags. Each flag commemorated a deceased area service person. Their were names listed on the back of the ceremony's printed program.

The Memorial Day event in Bonita Springs ended with the last notes of “Taps” fading an instant before the nearby clock tower rang 10 a.m.