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Veterans Council of Martin County holds Memorial Day ceremony in Stuart, unveils plaque for WWII glider pilot
Summary
The Veterans Council of Martin County held its annual Memorial Day parade and ceremony in Stuart on Memorial Day, honoring fallen service members, recognizing gold star families and unveiling a plaque for Lieutenant Raymond Darling Jr., organizers said.
The Veterans Council of Martin County held its annual Memorial Day parade and ceremony in Stuart on Memorial Day, honoring fallen service members, recognizing gold star families and unveiling a plaque for Lieutenant Raymond Darling Jr., organizers said.
The event featured a presentation of colors by the Vietnam Veterans, chapter 1041, music by the Treasure Coast Community Singers Chorus led by Doug Jewett, a pledge of allegiance, a moment of silence for POW/MIA and an invocation by Mike Drost, manager of the Martin County Veteran Service Office.
The ceremony’s guest speaker, Colonel Thomas Lytle, retired, traced Memorial Day’s origins and reflected on the scale of military service, saying, "We owe them more than we can ever repay." Lytle noted roughly "41,000,000 men and women have served our country" historically and said about "a million and a half have made the ultimate sacrifice," remarks delivered during his prepared address.
Organizers also announced the unveiling of a distinguished service memorial plaque for Lieutenant Raymond Darling Jr., described during the ceremony as a glider pilot who fell on D-Day and is interred at the Normandy American Cemetery in C Plot, Grave 29. The ceremony program and announcers credited Lieutenant Darling with receiving the Air Medal and a Purple Heart.
This year’s grand marshal was Sergeant Major (Ret.) Linda Elliott; she was introduced at the ceremony and escorted by "mister Brian Mast and his motorcycle," according to the program remarks. Several local veterans organizations read a necrology listing departed members. Announced losses included names read by Post 126 (Jensen Beach), Post 92 and the Vietnam Veterans of America chapter 1041, among others. Examples read aloud during the ceremony included Joe Sullivan, Edward Knowles, Joseph D'Andrea, John Holesky and Marine Sergeant John Salovey.
The event concluded with a benediction and a request that attendees view Lieutenant Darling’s plaque mounted near the main flagpole outside the ceremony area.
No formal votes, motions or policy actions were taken during the ceremony; the program consisted of speeches, musical performances, readings of the necrology and ceremonial elements.
