Dedication of School District’s Purple Heart Wall of Fallen Heroes

“Let it be known that he who wears the military order of the Purple Heart has given his blood in the defense of his homeland and shall forever be revered by his fellow countrymen.”

~ General George Washington, 1^st President of US, 1782

Today Citrus County Schools is honoring our school district’s fallen heroes at the permanent Purple Heart Wall of Honor.  The event was attended by many local and state dignitaries, school district administrator and staff, community members and most honored, the family and friends of these fine Heroes.  Of the many great events I have been proud to participate in this was one of the ones I was so grateful to have been a small part of.

I had the very honor of sharing some remarks about this special day before then reading the names of the Fallen Heroes.

“These heroes are the dedicated defenders of what is good and just in our great country and community. When they answered the call to service, they did not ask about the citizens whose freedom they were defending. They did not ask if they were rich or poor, what God they did or did not worship or what the color of their skin was. They simply asked, “Where am I needed?” and then answered that call.

It is our hope that this Wall of Honor will remind us to think of each of them. Think about them when our children are playing on our schools’ playgrounds. Think about them when you enjoy a quiet walk on your neighborhood streets with your friends, and think of them when you and your family feel safe as you fall asleep at night.

These heroes have given us a gift we can never pay back. We would like to thank each of their families as we publicly declare to our community how blessed we are for these heroes’ service, courage, and sacrifice.”

May 5th, 2014 Honored Purple Heart Fallen Heroes

• Chief Warrant Officer 2 Aaron A. Weaver, USA (Citrus High School)
• Corporal Stanley J. Lapinski, USA (Collier County, FL)
• Sergeant Dennis J. Flanagan, USA, (Lecanto High School)
• Sergeant Robert A. Surber, USA (Citrus High School)
• Sergeant Dennis J. Boles, USA (Crystal River High School)
• Sergeant Jonathan K. Peney, USA, (Crystal River High School)
• Corporal Johnathan Taylor, USMC (Lecanto High School)
• Private First Class Michael C. Mahr, USA (South Sumter High School)
• Chief Warrant Officer 2 Randy L. Billings, USA (Oklahoma)

Additional Photos from the event

 

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