Oct 15, 2016. Palmetto Bay is honored to host Hershel Woodrow "Woody" Williams and Gold Star Families

A great kick off to our veterans park. More promises kept.  This Veterans Park will be a model for properly recognizing our veterans, providing a place for our residents to go to and reflect upon the sacrifices made. Please take the time to read up on the Gold Star Mothers organization.


The Village of Palmetto Bay has been working with the members of the American Legion Marlin Moore Post #133 to create this Veterans Park/Gold Star Family Memorial Monument. This event featured a presentation by Hershel Woodrow (”Woody”) Williams, the last surviving Medal of Honor recipient from Iwo Jima.  October 15, 2016, was officially proclaimed as Hershel Woodrow "Woody" Williams Day in Palmetto Bay.

Thank you Marine Williams for your service, both during WWII as well as your continuous service thereafter in your efforts in regard to Gold Star Families.  Words cannot express our thoughts and thanks to the surviving family and friends of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service of our country.  

Photos above (left) - Paul D. Amato, Liaison/Adjutant, Marlin Moore Post #133, Honored Guest/Presenter Marine Williams with Youth Community Involvement (YCI) Board members Jacob DeWitt and Jackson Ribler
(Above right) I am honored to proclaim Saturday, October 15, 2016 as Hershel Woodrow "Woody" Williams Day in Palmetto Bay.

Palmetto Bay News - read at Rattlesnake Point US Army Reserve Center

Photo of the day - Just for fun - bringing the Palmetto Bay News to the Change of Command Ceremony.

Photo(s) of the Day - 332nd Transportation Battalion Change of Command Ceremony

I was honored to attend the 332nd Transportation Battalion Change of Command Ceremony on Sunday, April 10, 2016. LTC Walter Flinn Incoming Commander.

Colonel M. Steward, Commander, 641st RSG (in Center),
LTC  W. Flinn, Incoming Commander, 332 Trans BN, (Left) and
LTC C. Grammond, outgoing Commander, 332 Trans BN (Right)

Congratulations to Lt. Colonel Walter Flinn on accepting this command assignment/responsibility.  You make us all proud.

This was a day of ceremony that was well narrated, giving the history of this unit and explaining the purpose and ceremony involved in the change of command.

My thanks to all the members of this unit for their service.

 

Great time - Tribute to the Military 5K

Photos of the day - the entire extended family joined in at the Tribute to the Military 5K held Sunday evening, March 13, 2016.

The family that runs together ...? I got nothing. It was fun. Family fun.

W/Fellow PBAY resident Roger Synder.

The cousins places 1st and 3rd in their age group!

With Lt. Col. Walter Flinn and Commissioner Pepe Diaz

Happy Thanksgiving 2015 - to all: both home and serving abroad

Alexandra, Katherine, Meredith and I wish you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Like millions of others across this great country, we will celebrate Thanksgiving, honoring a tradition older than the nation itself. The Continental Congress proclaimed that the "inhabitants of these states" observe a day of Thanksgiving back in 1782.  Ever since then we set this day aside to give thanks for all our blessings, and this year we have many things for which to be thankful.

Please also take the time to remember and help the less fortunate.  Many families and children are doing with less.  Take the time to become involved in a local charity, with time, if not a donation. There are many ongoing charities that are looking for donations and volunteers - and their needs are 365, not merely at holiday time. Giving should be a yearlong concern, and not just a last-minute photo op.

There is much to be grateful for this Thanksgiving. Alexandra, Katherine, Meredith and I wish you and your family the happiest of holidays.  We will be thinking of my brother who is apart from the family, extended as well as his own spouse, and children, as he is once again deployed overseas during this holiday time.

Take some time and say thanks to both those who serve our armed forces as well as their support system, their families who remain at home and continue to care for the family while our men and women continue to serve us in these challenging times. 

Photo from those Veterans presently serving overseas: Lt. Col. Flinn and the Army Reserve Engagement Cell at
the Kuwait Naval Base. Thank you all for your service to our country (photo taken Veterans Day 2015)

Thanksgiving is the busiest traveling season of the year.  Please be aware and be safe.

One of my personal favorite quotes about a holiday:

On Thanksgiving Day all over America, families sit down to dinner at the same moment - halftime.

– (author unknown)

Thank you to those who have served. Have a happy Veterans Day - 2015

I would like to thank all US Military Veterans for their service to our country. 

Everyone should take a moment to honor those who have preserved our freedom and protected all of our rights, including the right to vote. Veterans Day is a holiday honoring living military veterans. It is both a Federal holiday and is also recognized and observed by all 50 states.

This year Palmetto Bay is honoring our local Veterans through hosting them for dinner at their American Legion Hall. Marlin Moore Post 133, in Palmetto Bay.  I look forward to serving our local veterans for this one special evening.   2016 will be special for our residents and Veterans as we embark upon a committee effort to determine the location, design and development of a Veterans Park/Memorial in Palmetto Bay.  This will be a public process and I invite participation from all residents in this long-overdue recognition park.

Lt. Col. Flinn and the Army Reserve Engagement Cell at the Kuwait Naval Base on this Veterans Day

Not every veteran is celebrating from the comfort of home, my brother, Walter Flinn, Lt. Col, US Army, is observing Veterans Day 2015, while deployed overseas.  We are all very proud of Lt. Col. Flinn for his service to our country.

History:  President Woodrow Wilson first proclaimed Armistice Day on November 11, 1919. Other countries today also still recognize November 11th as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day in honor of the Armistice treaty which ended WWI. The U.S Congress amended this act on November 8, 1954, making this holiday Veterans Day as we know it today.

Military dot com list ways that you can celebrate and educate your children about Veterans Day:  http://www.military.com/veterans-day

History dot com offers a wealth of information about Veteran’s Day:  CLICK HERE

Thank you to every man and women who has served our county as a member of our armed forces

Very truly yours,

Eugene Flinn

Photo of the Day - Promotion Day for Lt. Col. Walter Flinn. Congratulations.

Lt. Col. Walter Flinn with family at his promotion ceremony today (Saturday, August 2, 2014) at Ft. Benning, GA. Congratulations.

 

Lt. Col. Walter Flinn pictured at his promotion ceremony

with spouse Jennifer, niece Meredith and daughter Allison

Photo of the Day - Maj. Flinn transferring into the Palmetto Bay post

Brother Walter Flinn, Major, US Army, transfers in to the American Legion post 133 - Palmetto Bay, on the 2014 Memorial Day remembrance.  Major Flinn has served 3 tours of duty overseas to date; 2 in Iraq and the last in Afghanistan.

 A big thank you to all members of our armed services who answered the call to serve.
 

Thank you to those who have served. Have a happy Veterans Day - 2013

I would like to take this opportunity to recognize and thank all US Military veterans for their service to our country. Everyone should take a moment to honor those who have preserved our freedom and protected all of our rights, including the right to vote. Veterans Day is a holiday honoring living military veterans. It is both a Federal holiday and is also recognized and observed by all 50 states.

Veterans Day 2013 is special for our family as brother Walter Flinn, Major, US Army who just returned from his third deployment overseas, this time earning his  Afghanistan Campaign Ribbon.  We are all very proud of Major Flinn for his service to our country. He arrived back in Miami late Friday evening (Nov. 8) just in time for Veterans Day.

History:  President Woodrow Wilson first proclaimed Armistice Day on November 11, 1919. Other countries today also still recognize November 11th as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day in honor of the Armistice treaty which ended WWI. The U.S Congress amended this act on November 8, 1954, making this holiday Veterans Day as we know it today.

Military dot com list ways that you can celebrate and educate your children about Veterans Day: http://www.military.com/veterans-day/celebrate-veterans-day.htm

History dot com offers a wealth of information about Veteran’s Day: http://www.history.com/minisites/veteransday/

Thank you to every man and women who has served our county as a member of our armed forces

Photo of the Day - Major Walter Flinn returns from Afghanistan

No words are needed here. Part of his family pictured with Major Walter Flinn at Miami International Airport upon his return from his tour of duty in Afghanistan. Welcome home Walter.

November 8, 2013

Palmetto Bay News read at Camp Phoenix, Afghanistan

Palmetto Bay News read at Camp Phoenix, Afghanistan | Palmetto Bay Clink the link to view the photo online of my brother, Major Walter Flinn, reading the local Palmetto Bay News with the international team at Camp Phoenix, Kabul Afghanistan.

Thank you all for your service.  Stay safe.