by Lynn Donavan
ldonovan@pnj.com
Strength. Honor. Commitment.
These are just words to many but to the veterans who gathered Saturday at the Veterans Memorial Park in Pensacola; they’re a way of life.
About 200 people, including several Pearl Harbor survivors, attended a ceremony to recognize Purple Heart recipients.
The Purple Heart is a medal given to service personnel wounded or killed in action.
The Veterans Day ceremony was centered around the Purple Heart Memorial Monument. Funding for the monument was provided by the law firm of Michles & Booth.
Marcus Michles II said he was privileged represent his firm in the endeavor and urged the crowd to not forget the sacrifices veterans have made.
“Not only have they done the heavy lifting on the battlefield, they serve as an inspiration and a moral compass off it,” Michles said.
Michles said his military upbringing further inspired his interest in the project.
My father is a 100 percent disabled veteran, and I’m a veteran myself,” he said. “This needed to be done. They have literally bled for this country. I don’t think this can be stressed enough.”
Some veterans believed the recognition was long overdue.
Gene Loving received two Purple Hearts for his service in Vietnam.
“It was good of the law firm to do this,” Loving said. “There’s quite a few wounded veterans in this town.”
