Garden of Gold display will honor fallen heroes and Medal of Honor recipient Alwyn Cashe
Hillsborough County, Fla. (May 9, 2024) - For many, Memorial Day weekend signals the start of summer. But military and Gold Star Families, whose loved ones gave their lives in service to the nation, hope that Americans will pause to reflect on the true meaning of the holiday: to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Hillsborough County Consumer & Veterans Services and the Veterans Council of Hillsborough County invite the community to the County's 27th annual Memorial Day Observance on Sunday, May 26, at 10 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Park & Rear Admiral Collins, Jr. Veterans Museum, 3602 U.S. Hwy. 301 N., Tampa, FL 33619.
New faces will be added to the County's vibrant Garden of Gold flag installation, an emotionally moving display depicting dozens of sons, daughters, sisters, brothers, and spouses who made the ultimate sacrifice for the nation. Among the honorees will be U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Alwyn C. Cashe of Oviedo, Florida. Cashe was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, the military's highest decoration, for life-saving heroism during service in Iraq.
The 27th annual Memorial Day Observance will feature:
- Leaders from MacDill Air Force Base
- County Commissioners and other community leaders
- Presentations by American Gold Star Mothers
- Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC), rifle salute, and taps
- Tribute to the late Walter Raysick, U.S. Navy Master Chief Petty Officer
- On-site resources for Veterans and military families
- Refreshments and fellowship following the outdoor ceremony
Hillsborough County's Veterans Memorial Park is open daily from 7 a.m.-5 p.m., with free admission and parking. Visitors are encouraged to visit the monuments.
For more information, contact Hillsborough County Consumer & Veterans Services at (813) 635-8316.