From active-duty military to veterans, service men and women dedicate their lives to keep Americans safe. The highest sacrifice of military service is honored nationally every year on Memorial Day, a federal holiday that honors U.S. military personnel who died in service. This year, Memorial Day falls on May 25.
To honor that sacrifice, the cities of Wildwood and Leesburg are each hosting Memorial Day events this week.
The Wildwood Police Department’s “Remember and Honor” Memorial Day Event will bring the community together for what Roni Wood, community outreach specialist for the department, said will be a free patriotic party.
The fourth annual event will open with a 30-minute patriotic ceremony that will include bagpipes, Miss Sumter County 2026 Gralynn Munz singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” and speeches by Army and Vietnam veteran Sgt. Warren Sutton and Air Force veteran Steven Preston.
“The event allows the community to come out and memorialize those who lost their lives and support their families,” Wood said.
Attendees also will have the opportunity to give back to the community through a blood drive donation with the Big Red Bus, and the American Legion Tri-City Post 18 will be on hand to accept American flags that individuals wish to retire.
Daja Clayton, Wildwood Police Department public information officer, said Memorial Day offers the perfect opportunity to reflect on the veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice, especially as the nation celebrates its 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence .
“I think the event will bring a large crowd and a lot of people will come to share their patriotism,” Clayton said.
The “Remember and Honor” Memorial Day Event will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Wildwood Community Center, 6500 Powell Road, Wildwood. To save your space for the event, which is requested, email communityoutreach@wildwood-fl.gov.
The City of Leesburg is partnering with the Tunnel to Towers Foundation to host a Memorial Day program.
The anticipated hourlong ceremony with complimentary refreshments will start at 10 a.m. Saturday at Veterans Memorial Park, 600 W. Meadow St., Leesburg.
Maggie Lyden, City of Leesburg special events manager, said the ceremony will be a nice and quick way for people to start off their weekend.
“The Memorial Day ceremony is significant each year because it’s important to honor the sacrifice of veterans,” she said. “We like to keep the event focused on remembrance by having representation of all the different branches.”
Along with tributes, assistance from the Leesburg JROTC and a patriotic performance from the King Guys Band, there will be a special appearance by John Manning, ambassador for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, a nonprofit based in New York that provides mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and the families of fallen first responders.
For more information about the Memorial Day and veteran support events in Leesburg, visit leesburgflorida.gov.
Staff writer Brea Jones can be reached at 352-753-1119, ext. 5414, or brea.jones@thevillagesmedia.com.
