The dedication will take place this morning during a Veterans Day ceremony at Crest Lake Park in Clearwater. A Navy SEAL who died in combat will also be honored.

CLEARWATER – Residents from across Pinellas County are invited to honor those who served to protect the country’s freedoms at a Veterans Day Ceremony today (Nov. 11).

The event will honor a Navy SEAL who died in combat and includes the dedication of State Road 60 as a Purple Heart Trail. The ceremony hosted by Tampa Bay Veterans Alliance will begin at 10:30 a.m. at Crest Lake Park, 201 S Glenwood Ave. in Clearwater.

Former U,.S. Rep. David Jolly will host the event, which features speaker Cindy Dietz, a Gold Star Mother of Navy SEAL Danny Dietz, who died during a firefight in Afghanistan. Capt. Ward Sandlin, commander of the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station in Clearwater and Clearwater Mayor George Cretekos will also make remarks.

During the ceremony, State Rep. Chris Latvala, R-Clearwater, will dedicate State Road 60 as a Purple Heart Trail. The Pinellas County Commission endorsed the state’s designation of the trail this summer. Also this summer, the commission proclaimed Pinellas a Purple Heart County. The Purple Heart Trail was established in 1992 by the Military Order of the Purple Heart to be a symbolic national network of roadways to commemorate and honor all men and women who were wounded or killed in combat while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

The ceremony will also include a fly-over by the U.S. Coast Guard. Entertainment will follow the ceremony, and food and drink will be provided. Resources to help veterans will be available on site.

For information about the Purple Heart Trail, go to purpleheart.org.

Veterans Day | Pinellas County | Clearwater | David Jolly | George Cretekos | Chris Latvala | Events Near Me | Tampabay News

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