Retired colonel speaks about sacrifice at Veterans Day Remembrance
SFCC held a community Veterans Day Remembrance ceremony on Nov. 11. Over 200 community members, students, and employees attended the ceremony. The ceremony honored all veterans and recognized SFCC’s employees and students who are also veterans.
During the ceremony, guest speaker William E. Hutchison, retired colonel, U.S. Air Force, spoke about the enormous debt all Americans owe to the military men and women who have fought to for the great freedoms they enjoy. Colonel Hutchison served in the U.S. Air Force for 30 years, where as a combat ready pilot he flew missions throughout Asia during the Vietnam War. From 1979-82, he was the deputy commander for operations, 435th Tactical Airlift Wing, which participated in the return of the Iranian hostages.
Troy Glenn, OS2(SW), U.S. Navy, and SFCC student, represented the college’s student veterans during the ceremony. He told of the history and meaning of Veterans Day. Avon Park High School’s Air Force Junior ROTC unit raised the flag.
The benediction was delivered by Ben Carter, SFCC’s Tutoring and Learning Center coordinator and Adult Educator advisor, former U.S. Army specialist 4th class, and active Army reserve specialist 5th class. The ceremony concluded with a remembrance walk around campus led by the U.S. Military Vets Motorcycle Club-Sebring Chapter.
“Freedom isn’t free, and we owe a large debt of gratitude to our military veterans,” said Erik Christensen, chair, SFCC Natural Sciences, and retired commander, U.S. Navy. “This SFCC Veterans Day remembrance ceremony offered the opportunity to take a short pause in our busy lives and reflect upon the sacrifices that military veterans have endured to ensure the freedoms we now richly enjoy.”
The Avon Park High School Air Force Junior ROTC raised the flag during SFCC’s Veterans Day ceremony.
SFCC student Troy Glenn, OS2(SW), U.S. Navy, spoke about the history and meaning of Veterans Day.
The SFCC Basic Corrections Academy Class 2009-173 stood in formation as the flag was raised.
Ben Carter, specialist 4th class, U.S Army, and specialist 5th Class, U.S. Army Reserve, begins the remembrance walk following the program.
Jill Feyerharm-Sconyers, retired 1st sergeant, U.S. Army, Bobby Sconyers, retired staff sergeant, U.S. Army, and Lydell Cassidy, E4BT3, U.S. Navy, participated in the remembrance walk around the Highlands Campus.
Erik Christensen, retired U.S. Navy commander, gathered with the large crowd before the ceremony began.
