Veterans honored across South Florida
It was a patriotic crowd honoring veterans in the Palm Beach Gardens Veterans Plaza Amphitheater
The Palm Beach Brass played onstage and the police department presided over the Presentation of Colors and a flag-folding ceremony.
WW II veteran Julius Duhl was all smiles — he was a cameraman when he enlisted at just 19, and was wounded when a tank exploded in front of him as he took pictures.
"But that was a lucky wound; while I was being patched the rest of my camera crew became prisoners of war – at the Battle of the Bulge," Duhl said.
The ceremony touched Vietnam War veteran Dennis Schmidt who said he still has flashbacks of war.
"Like they say you go in a kid and come out a man. You know you grow up quite a bit, things you see and have to do, things you never forget," Schmidt said.
Veterans in Boca Raton were entertained by the American Bombshells and the King Guys band.
The city provided a free lunch and the American Legion was on hand to give out information helpful after military life, while a plane flew overhead trailing a banner saying "Thanks to Our Veterans."
Abbey Delray South commemorated the day with a special ceremony, honoring their 30 veteran residents with patriotic music and a musical tribute recognizing each of the military branches.
All across our area, people took the time to recognize the heroic service of those who fought for our country
"It’s a great day, a great day, very good," summed up WWII veteran Leonard Borkowski.