A Tale of Two Parks Under One Blanket of Freedom

On Saturday evening Veterans Community Park found itself as two very different parks. One was that of a solemn place of dignity and respect, as men and women gathered to honor their fellow military veterans who never returned home from conflicts, which ironically enabled those gathering just a few short steps away to celebrate as a free and vibrant citizenry. Their freedoms were guaranteed by the men and women who gathered on the other side of the park to remember those who never came home from battles fought so far away.

Unfortunately the irony of such gatherings are often lost upon generations that have been born so many years since the last battles were fought that provided those freedoms. However, those sacrifices were not forgotten by those gathered under the flags of the Veterans Memorial area of the now completed Veterans Community Park which residents of Marco Island funded through tax dollars and donations. An irony of sorts in today’s world.

On the Veterans Memorial side of the park members of a group known as Rolling Thunder, Inc., and specifically Florida Chapter Five, came to dedicate what is known as a Chair of Honor out of respect to those POW/MIA who never returned. This special symbol is meant to educate the public to their fate and the pain still held by their families who never welcomed home their loved one and experienced the closure of loss.

The POW-MIA Chair of Honor can be found in public spaces ranging from professional sports stadiums to small town city halls and everywhere in between, and now the City of Marco Island and the residents of the community have the distinct honor to have received this wonderful remembrance that they will never be forgotten and serve as a continued reminder of our nation’s responsibility to bring them home.

Carl Steinhoff, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Florida Chapter Five of Rolling Thunder, Inc. led the dedication ceremony for the placement of the Chair of Honor within Veterans Community Park. The ceremony was arranged by the City of Marco Island in coordination with the Rolling Thunder Chapter Five.

Also in attendance were American Legion Post 404 members, members of city staff and some city councilors.

Local entertainer Jimmy Long kicked off the ceremony with his popular rendition of the Lee Greenwood Song, “God Bless the USA.” Carl Steinhoff addressed the gathering and gave a historical overview of the Rolling Thunder Mission and the personal connection of the POW issue to the City of Marco Island before members of his Honor Guard unveiled the Chair at the end of the dedication ceremonies.

Veterans Community Park is open seven days a week, as is the memorial, until 9:00 PM each day.

At the conclusion of the Dedication Ceremony for the Chair of Honor the other section of the park began the celebratory activities of yet another successful Island Rocks Concert Series. This weekend’s entertainment started with an hour set from Jimmy Long with “The Boss Project” closing out the night. If you’ve ever seen Springsteen live, you know his shows are all about the energy and “The Boss Project” was no different; the audience was up and dancing all night! The two performers played from 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM.  The weather was perfect and residents, visitors and guests were able to jam on the concert lawn in front of UNITY Amphitheater and in all other areas of the park. A big thanks to the volunteers from the Kiwanis and Rotary groups who teamed up with the city Parks and Rec department to make the evening a smash.