Monday, November 10, 2008

At a time when a nation is putting its faith in a new president to bring the troops home from Iraq, Florida Keys residents also will remember those who lived and died through other wars.

The Key West Veterans Day Parade begins at 4 p.m. Tuesday at the corner of Duval and Catherine streets. It will proceed along Duval Street to Front Street, and a reviewing stand will be on the corner of Duval and Fleming streets.

Military units, veterans' groups and others will march through the streets to pay tribute to veterans, one of whom will be in the parade. World War II POW Gene Fizer, a seasonal Key West resident, is in town to join the parade.

For more information on the parade, call U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. James Young at 305-293-5547 or e-mail him at james.young@jiatfs.southcom.mil.

Marathon celebrated its fourth annual Veteran's Day Parade with a procession along U.S. 1 on Saturday.

In Islamorada, there will be a live auction from 7 to 11 p.m. today and a party from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, both at the Zane Grey Lounge, Mile Marker 81.5, upstairs from World Wide Sportsman.

Both events are fundraisers for the Forgotten Soldiers organization, which sends monthly care packages to soldiers deployed worldwide. The auction will be hosted by professional auctioneer Bob Nichols, who is chairman of the Forgotten Soldiers board.

Tuesday's party will include celebrity bartenders, local bands, a silent auction, a sunset ceremony and more. Tips, auction proceeds and a portion of food sales will be donated to the nonprofit group.

For more information, go to www.forgottensoldiers.org.

Also on Tuesday, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will offer free day-use entry to all state park visitors, in honor of the nation's 25 million veterans and 1.3 million active-duty service men and women.

"We remind our residents and visitors to appreciate and celebrate the many freedoms and privileges we enjoy, such as Florida's state parks and the recreational opportunities and festivals they provide," said DEP Secretary Michael W. Sole.

Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs Executive Director LeRoy Collins Jr. applauded the state park service's tradition of recognizing veterans, such as giving active-duty members of the Florida National Guard, their spouses and minor children half-price entry to state parks year-round.