Pre-Memorial Day American Flag Placement 2024 at Barrancas National Cemetery

More than 300 Scouts, family members, active duty military men and women, citizens, and Patriot Guard riders gave their time early this morning to insure every grave in our national cemetery had an American Flag waving beside it

Once again this year I was honored and humbled to be invited to give remarks on behalf of the Board of County Commissioners at the pre-Memorial Day Saturday flag placement ceremony at Barrancas National Cemetary aboard NAS Pensacola.  For more than 5 decades the Boy Scouts of America troops all over the nation have gathered together with communities nationwide to place a flag at the graves of fallen veterans before Memorial Day.  Locally, my brother Judge Gary Bergosh and sister-in-law Carissa Bergosh have spearheaded the effort since 2011 to work with the Gulf Coast Council of the Boy Scouts of America to insure every grave site at Barrancas National Cemetery has an American Flag flying in front of it prior to Memorial Day.  

Then, after the holiday, they assist with removing the flags and properly storing them for the following year.

Today, there were more than 300 scouts, scout volunteers, family members, veterans, active duty military men and women, and members of the Patriot Guard giving of their time to make sure the fallen are properly remembered.

Barrancas National Cemetery Director Craig LaChance (center), a US Army Veteran, welcomes the Boy Scouts and other volunteers  to Barrancas National Cemetary Aboard NAS Pensacola for American Flag placement day 5-25-2024

Craig LaChance, Director of Barrancas National Cemetery, welcomed the assembled, somber crowd and urged them to remember the reason for this holiday and the incredible sacrifices the men and women who died in battle have made, allowing us to be a free nation.

"To put the sacrifice in context, we should look no further than the upcoming 80th year anniversary of D-Day in WWII.  On just that one day we lost more than 2,500 military personnel.  Over our 20 years in Afghanistan, we lost about the same number." said Mr. La Chance.

As he gave the invocation, my brother and Circuit Court Judge Gary Bergosh (himself a retired Marine Lt. Col) reinforced the message.  "Remember, these men and women made the ultimate sacrifice to keep this country free.  Freedom is not Free!" he stated.

For my part, I thanked the folks present for giving their day to serve the fallen and to properly honor them.  I further thanked them on behalf of the Board of County Commissioners, Chairman Steven Barry, and the county staff.  I recognized all the men and women present who served in the military, as well as those young men and women scouts who have made the decision to enlist.  Several of them raised there hands and were given a rousing round of applause for their commitment to enlist and serve our nation.  Barrancas is a special place for my family; both my mother and father are buried here--so I always take time when I am here to go and put a flag, proudly, next to Master Chief Bob Bergosh's headstone in the columbarium.  We also have a close family friend, Scotty Rogers, buried at Barrancas.  So--after all the welcome introductions and a prayer--we did what we came to do.

The large group fanned out and within a few short hours every grave had a flag.

Yes, this is a holiday weekend.  Yes, we should all relax and enjoy time with our friends and loved ones.  And YES, we should all recognize this and every holiday we enjoy, indeed every day we enjoy in freedom.  Because being citizens of this---- the greatest coutry the world has ever seen-- is a blessing from God secured by brave men and women who served our nation and paid the ultimate price to secure our liberty and Freedom.  

That is what Memorial Day is about.

Now, go enjoy the beach, barbeque, and beer.

History Front and Center in Escambia County This Past Week!

This past week was a busy one in Escambia County.

A lot of what we as a community were doing was remembering those who came before us, those who sacrificed their lives for the defense of our country, and we were also celebrating our area's rich history in a number of ways.

It started last weekend on Saturday as the Boy Scouts of America locally, along with affiliated groups, placed flags at every grave site at Barrancas National Cemetery aboard NAS Pensacola.  The ceremony was solemn and the turnout was large.  I was honored to be invited to speak to the scouts and welcome them for the flag placement.  This was followed by multiple Memorial Day events throughout the area on Sunday and Monday.

We also had a very special visit to our area by a beautiful United State Coast Guard Tall Ship.  Warm Thanks to the Navy League of Pensacola and Seville Quarter for hosting the first Pensacola visit for Coast Guard Cutter "Barque" Eagle. Captain Michael Turdo and his entire crew hosted a ships reception on Saturday evening.  This ship, built in Germany and originally an asset of the German Navy in World War II-was taken as a war prize after the Allied victory in WWII.  It has been utilized by the Coast Guard ever since the end of the war to train U.S. Coast Guard Academy recruits at sea and also to visit ports around the world for outreach from the US Coast Guard.  Touring the ship felt like walking back into history as it was explained that upon the commissioning of this ship Adolph Hitler was present and walked on this vessel.  Great to see the ship doing good things for our country in the wake of its beginning in Nazi Germany.  And the crew--wow.  Meeting these impressive young men and women reinforces my faith in America's youth.

The Navy League of Pensacola organized a luncheon in honor of the crew of the Eagle on Friday morning, after providing the opportunity for dignitaries to "ride-in" on the ship the morning before.  As a gesture of goodwill and appreciation for the hospitality the Pensacola area has shown the ship and the crew--Commanding officer of the Eagle CAPT Michael Turdo, presented a certificate of appreciation to Fiesta 2022's Don Tristan De Luna at this function held downtown at Jackson's Restaurant.

On Wednesday afternoon, the community held a soft opening ceremony for downtown's newest historical heritage attraction "America's First Settlement Trail" a 20 stop, 3-mile interactive and self-paced, self guided walking tour through downtown Pensacola--spotlighting our area's rich history.  This project was funded by the City of Pensacola, Escambia County, and a lot of individual contributions from families and businesses.

Later Wednesday night--the community celebrated the "Surrender" of the city and county to Don Tristan De Luna in Downtown Pensacola at Seville Quarter.  It was a great evening of fun and festivities that everyone enjoyed.