November 4, 2022 – Flagler County officials have been honoring the veterans within the organization with a weeklong social media tribute through Veterans Day, Thursday, in gratitude for their service to the United States, and continued dedication to the county.
“I am truly honored to work with so many veterans who have served our country with distinction, and who continue to serve our community in other capacities,” said County Administrator Heidi Petito. “There’s no one more deserving of our gratitude and respect than those who have served, or who continue to serve in the military, so that we can continue to enjoy the benefits of living in the USA.”
Individual recognition for the 30 participating veterans – as well as some who are still serving in the Reserves or National Guard (they are honored employees too) – within the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners will post now through Veterans Day to the county’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/FlaglerCountyGovernment.
Flagler County Government offices are closed on Veterans Day, and will reopen Monday, November 14.
Free events to honor veterans on this holiday weekend include the following:
- Flagler County and Palm Coast Veterans Day Ceremony, 10 a.m. November 11, Central Park, at 975 Central Avenue, Palm Coast. A picnic lunch for veterans will follow from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. for veterans and their families.
- Flagler Beach Veterans Day Ceremony, 1 p.m. November 11, Veterans Park, 101 N. Oceanshore Boulevard.
- Flagler County Public Library Palm Coast Main Branch “White Table Ceremony” to honor service men and women who are Prisoners of War or Missing in Action, 10 a.m. on Saturday, November 12. Located at 2500 Palm Coast Parkway Northwest.
- Celebrate America, noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, November 12, Florida Agricultural Museum, 7900 Old Kings Road. Opening ceremonies at 12:30 p.m. by Representative Paul Renner and local elected officials. Features live music, a kids’ zone, and radio-controlled aerobatics and dog fights at 2:30 p.m.
Listed below are the veterans and active service members who chose to participate in the tribute:
Tim Baltzley
Road and Bridge
United States Army
7 years
Danny Bowman
Airport Operations
United States Coast Guard
21.5 years
John Brower
Financial Services
United States Navy
5 years
Eric Companioni
Fire Rescue
United States Army
4 years
Eduardo Diaz Cordero
Health and Human Services
United States Army and Florida National Guard
7 years
James Crawford
Road and Bridge
United States Coast Guard
20 years
Collin Dills
Fire Rescue
Army Florida National Guard
6 years (currently serving)
Christopher Ellis
Fire Rescue
United States Army
18 years total – Active Duty 13 years, and currently serving in the Reserves
Eric Flores Febles
Veterans Service
U.S. Army Reserve and U.S. Navy
23 years – U.S. Army Reserve (1984-1987), and U.S. Navy (Active, 1987-2007)
Charles Grebe
Building Department
United States Navy
4 years
Jim Grove
Emergency Management Volunteer
United States Army
29 years
Greg Hansen
County Commissioner
United States Navy
27 Years
Nealon Joseph
Emergency Management
United States Air Force
10 years (2004-2014)
David P. Lydon Jr.
Veterans Services
United States Air Force
37 years+ (still in service)
James Melady
Fire Rescue
United States Navy
10 years (2006-2016)
Connor Nelson
Innovation Technology
United States Air Force
3 years
Jonathan Andrew Nemergut
Library
United States Army
6 Years (2001-2007)
Devrie Paradowski
Health & Human Services
United States Navy
7 years
Andrew Pearson
Financial Services
United States Navy
4 years
Matthew Rivera
Innovation Technology
United States Navy
13 years
Robert Rounds
Purchasing
United States Navy
4 years
Roy Sieger
Airport
United States Marine Corps
20 years (1984-2004)
Jesse Sintscha
Fire Rescue
United States Navy
4 years (1998-2002)
Joshua Smith
Fire Rescue
United States Air Force
9 years
John Steadman
Fire Rescue
United States Army Reserves
Currently serving
John Strickland
Fire Rescue
United States Navy
3 years
David C. Sullivan
County Commissioner
United States Navy
Retired after 28 years of active service
Steven “Todd” Whaley
FireFlight
United States Navy
5 years (1992-1997)
Samantha Whitfield
Human Resources
United States Air Force
20 years
Richard Zufelt
Purchasing
United States Air Force and New York Air National Guard
8 years
