Oldsmar board reports Memorial Day program set; Air Force colonel to speak, cooling fans donated

Recreation staff told the Oldsmar Veterans Advisory Board on Thursday that preparations for the city’s Memorial Day observance are largely complete and that the program will include a speaker identified as U.S. Air Force Colonel Jeremy Parker, MD.

John Lindsay, recreation supervisor, told the board: “Pretty much everything is in line right now. We’ve got a speaker, US Air Force Colonel Jeremy Parker, MD. He’s the chief of medicine.” Lindsay said Talia Walk will perform the national anthem and that Dunedin High School Naval Junior ROTC will present the colors. The Dunedin High School Scottish Highlander band and a bagpiper will open and close the ceremony.

Lindsay said Sunbelt (represented in discussion by Aaron Votal) will donate two evaporative cooling fans with ice reservoirs to provide cooler air near the front of the ceremony area; he described the units as evaporative cooling fans, not misters, to limit spray on audience members. The board discussed placement and agreed the donated units should help with heat mitigation during the program.

Lindsay also said organizers have invited a color guard and that a vocalist will return from last year. He noted that, historically, veterans from a local nursing home attended but the facility’s operations remain limited post‑pandemic; staff said they would reach out to check for potential attendees.

The board confirmed hot dogs will be provided and that other logistical items — sound, invocation by Pastor Lundberg of Community United Methodist, and taps — were in hand or being finalized. Lindsay said the program could run as planned if held that day.

No crowd-size estimate or formal public-safety plan was discussed during the update.