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Local heroes honored on Veteran's Day
By THOMAS MICHALSKI
Article published on Thursday, Nov. 15, 2007 |
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![[Image]](/content_images/111507_par-05.jpg) |
| Photo by THOMAS MICHALSKI |
| Miss Armed Forces Sandy O’Hara presents flowers and certificate to Michael Delancey. |
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PINELLAS PARK – A standing room only crowd packed the new Pinellas Park Performing Arts Center on Nov. 9 to honor local servicemen, one of which remains in a wheelchair due to injuries suffered in Iraq.
The third annual Veterans Day Celebration sponsored by the Classical Christian School for the Arts and financed by Hardy Huntley, a local developer and owner of the Wagon Wheel Flea Market, included live entertainment and a military vehicle display.
Sylvia Baker, school administrator, said the celebration has grown during the past three years.
“We are all here to recognize the efforts of our troops,” Baker said. “They deserve our support and admiration.”
Four people, two of them brothers, were honored. They were:
• U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Michael Delancey who suffered serious injuries in Iraq that confined him to a wheelchair.
• U.S. Army Sgts. Scott J. Williams and Eric Williams, brothers, veterans of the war in Iraq.
• Retired U.S. Marine Sgt. Joseph D. Shelley, a veteran of World War II, Korea and the Vietnam wars.
Honor guards representing the Pinellas Park Police Department, American Cadet Alliance, Boy Scout Troop 337 and the Gulf Coast Chapter of the 101st Airborne Division launched the event. Syhann Roberts, a fifth-grader, received a standing ovation for her resounding rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner.”
One highlight of the ceremonies was when Sandy O’Hara, Miss Armed Forces, presented flowers and a certificate to Delancey who sat at attention in his wheelchair.
Delancey accepted the honors with a broad smile on his face. Later, Councilwoman Sandra Bradbury, who also is vice mayor, presented the Williams brothers with citations. One is returning to Iraq and the other to an Army base in Hawaii.
Their parents are Susan Walker, director of neighborhood services, and James Walker, utilities director.
Mayor Bill Mischler presented a citation to Shelley who was near tears as he made a verbal tribute to his wife, Betty, who was seated in the audience.
“Without my wife at my side,” Shelley said in a trembling voice, “I never would have made it.”
Pinellas County Commissioner John Morroni, retired Army Col. Charley Price and others praised veterans for their service.
Children of the Classical Christian School for the Arts sang and danced to military and patriotic music.
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Article published on Thursday, Nov. 15, 2007
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