The Flagler County government will be hosting its annual Memorial Day ceremony at the Government Services Building on Monday, May 27th, featuring a special guest: retired Marine Corps Colonel Mark Thieme, the Executive Director of the Florida State Guard. The event is an annual draw which brings guests and community leaders from across Flagler County to honor soldiers killed in duty both local and otherwise.
The ceremony will take place at the Government Services Building (1769 E Moody Blvd, Bunnell, FL 32110) at 10:00 am on Monday next week, in the area of the parking lot just in front of the main doors. Attendance is usually high, so those hoping for a good view of the ceremony would be well-advised to arrive early.
In his military career, Thieme earned such honors as the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal. He holds two degrees, both master’s degrees in Business Administration and and in Strategic Studies. The former was attained at Tulane University in Louisiana and the former at the Marine Corps University in Virginia.
“Flagler County has a very strong community of veterans,” said Veterans Service Officer David Lydon in a prepared statement from the county. “It is a privilege and an honor to have a distinguished veteran like Col. Mark Thieme help us pay tribute to those who lost their lives in service to our country.”
The ceremony will kick off with a Pledge of Allegiance led by local members of the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, followed by a performance of the Star-Spangled Banner by local singer Melanie DiMartino (daughter of Palm Coast Mayor David Alfin and an accomplished professional in her own right). According to Lydon, the ceremony will then honor a fallen soldier with a local connection.
“We will also recognize the loss of Army Cpl. Owen Niel Garnet gave his life in defense of our country and our way of life in Bien Hoa on January 31, 1968,” Lydon said. “We recognize his ultimate sacrifice and that of his family, which includes his sister Julia V. Moore who is the mother of Flagler County Court Judge Melissa Distler.”
The county’s statement also acknowledged two sponsors for the upcoming Memorial Day ceremony: the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners and the Flagler County Veterans Advisory Council. It listed a collection of veterans and support groups who plan to participate:
- American Legion Post 115
- Boy Scouts of America
- Combat Veterans of America
- Disabled Veterans Chapter 86
- Flagler County FireFlight
- Flagler County Veterans Service Office
- Flagler Woman’s Club
- Girls Scouts of America
- Knights of Columbus 2810 Color Corps
- Marine Corps League 875
- Matanzas High School JROTC
- Military Officers Association of America – Flagler Chapter
- Veterans of Foreign War Post 8696
