SARASOTA – A three month labor of love honoring veterans at Lake Pointe Woods retirement community had its big unveiling ceremony Monday. With honor, the crowd stood right hand over heart as the Star Spangled Banner rang through the halls.
24 residents at Lake Pointe Woods soaked in the Veterans Wall reveal. Each dedicated frame included a photo, a bio highlighting their years of service, notable achievements and other facts during their time in the military.
“I was in the Navy, as Navy Nurse for four years. I was stationed in San Diego. It was an excellent experience. I was one among many men, but they took good care of me too,” Meldaize Tesechi said.
Tedeschi still finds herself, all these years later, one among many men as the sole female veteran honored on the wall.
Several of the veterans being recognized served in World War II and Vietnam. Reliving their accomplishments brings moments of both nostalgia and pride.
“I broke the sound barrier 62 years ago. I served during the Korean War, I’d do it again in a blink,” U.S. Navy Veteran William Blumenstein said.