By Barbara McCormick
More than 100 guests gathered at Benvenuto Restaurant in Boynton
Beach on Veterans Day to pay homage to veterans of Palm Beach
County and thank them for serving our nation.
The patriotic 12th annual event was hosted by the American Health
Association under the direction of J. Robert Gordon, President/CEO.
Jesus Pintos served as Vice Chair and Paul LaGrone from WPBF 25
News was master of ceremonies.
Program highlights included the presentation of the colors by U.S.
Marine Corps Honor Guard, followed by the National Anthem,
performed by soloist Louis Galterio. The invocation was given by
Jesus Pintos.
A letter from U.S. Senator Bill Nelson to AHA President Gordon
thanked him and friends for “coming together to recognize our local
veterans,” and added “please join me in keeping those still serving in
your thoughts and prayers.”
Featured speaker U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, in discussing the veteran
job bill and the unemployment rate for veterans remarked, “One in
five veterans, or 20%, will be under the age of 24 returning from the
wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, looking for work. We have an obligation
to make sure that our vets have the necessary tools to navigate
the difficult job market to provide success in entering the civilian
workforce in this tough economy.”
Deutch is organizing a veteran job fair set for Dec. 3 at the National
Guard Armory in Broward County.
The Volunteer Veteran of the Year Award was presented to Eric Hill.
He joined the Marine Corps in June 1992 and joined the Young
Marines of the Palm Beaches Unit in January 2007, acting as the CO
since 2009. Hill, together with his wife and two sons have put in over
400 community service hours a year.
Veteran of the Year honors were also awarded to Brian Turner, U.S.
Army Veteran and Award Winning Poet. Turner shared selections
from his recent volumes with the group
A final applause for all who observed Veterans Day concluded the
ceremonies.
For information about American Health Association and its activities,
contact President Gordon at 561-361-9091.