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School honors veterans with 200 flags, ceremony

By JEFF SCHMUCKER

Hernando Today

Published: November 11, 2009

BROOKSVILLE - It rained on the Veterans Field of Glory as people gathered to celebrate Veterans Day — but not for long.
After community members placed almost 200 flags in honor of military soldiers Wednesday morning at Chocachatti Elementary School, light rain dampened the area and young and old alike took shelter while waiting for the clouds to pass.
Just as the ceremony was about to start, the skies cleared.
Margaret Schreiber and her granddaughter, Nicole Coleman, both attended the event to honor Schreiber's late husband, Charles — a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, Korean and Vietnam wars — and Coleman's husband Justin — a Hernando County soldier who was killed in Afghanistan last summer.
Following prayers and singing of the National Anthem, both Schreiber and Coleman agreed the ceremony did their deceased loved ones justice.
"I liked it, it was very respectful," Schreiber said.
No sooner did the ceremony end that the skies darkened and the rain began again.
Bob Muehlbauer, who helped orchestrate the field of glory and ceremony, said the event also introduced a new veteran's group called We Remember 27-1. Twenty-seven represents Florida being the 27th state brought into the Union and one represents the first group in the state. The group will do charity work and partner to help other organizations.
"We couldn't have had a better day to do it," Muehlbauer said about announcing the group.
The flags were positioned in 26 rows of 13 flags. Next year, Muehlbauer said the flags will likely be more spread out to help show the number of flags purchased for the event to honor veterans. Funds from purchasing the $1 flags will go to the elementary school.
Throughout the day, area residents gathered throughout Hernando County to honor veterans at ceremonies in Brooksville, Spring Hill, Hernando Beach, Shady Hills and other locations.
The annual Veterans Day Parade, however, is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, in downtown Brooksville. Parade lineup will begin at 8 a.m. in the parking lot behind Brooksville City Hall, at 201 Howell Ave. Parking will be available in the adjacent lot on Orange Avenue. Everyone is invited to attend and show appreciation for veterans both past and present.
For more information, call Anna Covell at 352-544-0680.