Sweetwater — Hundreds gathered for Valor Fest 2025 in the City of Sweetwater on Veterans Day for an evening of music, military tributes and community recognition.

Mayor Jose “Pepe” Diaz opened the program, thanking sponsors and volunteers and calling the event a tribute to those who have served. “This is an incredible event, and we’re very proud to host it in the City of Sweetwater,” Diaz said, urging attendees to thank veterans and first responders.

The program included a musical tribute from Sergeant Liz Linda Bremer of the City of Miami Police Department, who dedicated her band’s opening set to recently fallen officers named during the ceremony and framed the performance as a message of solidarity: “We stand by you always in true spirit, and we use the universal language of music to do that.”

Organizers also staged a parachute demonstration by a veteran jump team identified as Frog X. Hosts narrated safety checks and wind assessments before the jump and described the jumpers as former Special Operations personnel. The emcees noted gusts aloft earlier in the day and said the jumpers used streamers to calculate wind conditions before deployment; a host also relayed a reported free-fall speed figure during narration.

A short video on Marine Corps history preceded a cake-cutting ceremony in Marine tradition. Command Sergeant Major Robert Rodriguez explained that the ceremony recognizes the oldest Marine present (named as Mayor Diaz) and the youngest marine in attendance; the tradition symbolizes passing the Corps’ heritage between generations.

Local and touring performers rounded out the evening. Ricky Valido, billed as the Hialeah Hillbillies’ frontman and a Sweetwater resident, performed a country set dedicated to veterans. The British rock band Asia, featuring John Payne, closed the program and reminded the audience that fireworks would follow the performances.

Organizers repeatedly thanked a long list of sponsors — including the United States Military Foundation, Dolphin Mall, FIU, Clear Channel/iHeart and local businesses — and reminded attendees that the street would be reopened to traffic by 5 a.m.

The celebration included ceremonial elements (prayer, Pledge of Allegiance and retiring of the colors) and multiple references to local veteran services and outreach. Organizers said they plan to host Valor Fest again next year.