Seminole County honors veterans through special luncheon celebration
Seminole County has established a tradition of honoring veterans at a yearly special luncheon to celebrate all branches for their service and sacrifice.
It was a packed house at the Sanford Civic Center, with many veterans proudly displaying the branch they served and the veteran's groups that are still a big part of their lives.
The event began with the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem, followed by a meal celebrating Seminole County Veterans.
As part of the event, a video celebrating Sanford's past as a Naval Air Station was shown, and veterans shared what getting together like this means to them.
"A lot of my friends that we can't get together during the year, meet a lot of them here," said Jim Lyon, a veteran.
Some took the opportunity to see friends they hadn't seen in a while.
"I get to see some people I haven't seen in years, meet up with them. Usually can't get tracking with them," said Robert Morgan, a veteran.
Morgan served in Vietnam, then later in Desert Storm as a reservist.
"If you think back how the Vietnam Vets were treated when they got back, it's kind of a, you know, a make-up," Morgan said.
A special award was given to Ned Voska, who spent some time in a concentration camp as a child, liberated at 10 years old.
Voska came to the U.S. as a teenager with his mom and joined the military because jobs were hard to come by.
"I'll join the service, do my part," Voska said.
From the Air Force to establishing a Seminole County business, he is now a proud local veteran.
"I've been in the Oviedo American Legion for 40 years, and I want to thank them for supporting me," Voska said.
He said the special award came to him as a surprise and was a meaningful moment.
"Not expected, but meaningful, yes," Voska said.