LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. (WWSB) – While the new Lakewood Ranch Library sees thousands of visitors each week, there’s also another permanent exhibit to see which honors those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Saturday, Gardeners Out East Garden Club in conjunction with The Manatee Library Services & Community and Veterans Services presented the new Gold Star Families Memorial Marker.
The permanent display pays tribute to Gold Star Families whose loved ones died while defending the United States.
The first to be honored was Patrick Lay II. The Braden River High School Graduate died while serving as a US Army Specialist while deployed in Kandahar in 2011 when an IED struck his vehicle, killing Lay, and four other soldiers.
“I think that he would be proud to know that of the community that has come out to support The Gold Star Families,” said Stefenie Hernandez, Lay’s mother.
In May 2015, The Blue Star Families Memorial Program was added as an adjunct to the Blue Star Memorial Program at the request of the National Garden Clubs with approval from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
“We love our veterans, we appreciate them, we honor them, and we will do more in the future to recognize our veterans,” said Carolyn Lowry-Nation, president of “Gardeners Out East” Garden Club.
Officials said there are currently 47 Gold Star Family Memorial Markers in the United States.
With Saturday’s addition in Manatee County, officials said there are now 9 in the state of Florida.
Copyright 2024 WWSB. All rights reserved.
