Tense times color tribute to veterans

The terrorism attacks of Sept. 11 lend special meaning to a ceremony at the VA medical center.

By JULIANNE WU

© St. Petersburg Times,
published November 13, 2001

SEMINOLE -- An hour and a half into the Veterans Day ceremony at the VA Medical Center at Bay Pines on Monday, director Thomas H. Weaver cut in to announce the crash of an airplane in New York.

His comments drew gasps from some of the nearly 2,000 veterans, family members and others assembled behind the medical center's nursing unit. Others were visibly shaken.

Monday's event began with a parade of veterans from World War I (Alfred Pugh, 106, and Frankie Demeise, 104, both participated) through the Gulf War. There were also some veterans dressed in uniforms of the Revolutionary War and the Spanish-American War.

Members of area high school ROTC units marched behind aging veterans walking with canes or being pushed in wheelchairs.

Prayers, speeches and tributes commenced shortly after the 20 or so units in the parade posted their colors.

At one point in his welcoming speech, Weaver said: "This Veterans Day has special meaning, especially after what happened on Sept. 11.

"They (terrorists) have attacked our nation and our families. Now they are paying the price."

His words were greeted with applause.

Likewise, the audience warmed to the remarks of retired Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Thomas Draude.

Draude, who saw three tours of duty in Vietnam and served in the Gulf War, dedicated his speech to all veterans, particularly Vietnam veterans.

Another emotional high came at the end of the ceremony when Rick Wise, a singer-songwriter, and others on the podium invited the audience to sing Lee Greenwood's God Bless the USA.

"This has been an emotional year," said Vietnam veteran Dwight Harrah, 53, of St. Petersburg. "I'm here to give thanks, mostly. I got to thinking about my little trials and tribulations and then Sept. 11 happened.

"I felt violated . . . personally violated."

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