Veterans from Greatest Generation honored at annual Spirit of ‘45 banquet
On Aug. 13, the Lee County Spirit of ’45 banquet was held at Heritage Palms Golf and Country Club. This is the 12th and final year of this event organized by Eryka Aptaker.
The community has come together over the past 12 years to honor and remember those of the Greatest Generation that served during World War II. Each year the group gets smaller and this year the average age of the World War honorees was 98.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States of American have been strong supporters of this event and this year was no different. VFW District 13 was well represented with Commander Terry Daughtery, Senior Vice Rich Monroe and Junior Vice John Roberts. Four VFW Posts were also represented — Lehigh Acres Post 4174, North Fort Myers 100127, Cape Coral Post 8463 and Greater Pine Island VFW Post 4353.
Lee County Sheriffs Officer presented colors and the firing detail. Guns and Hoses, Pipe and Drum Corps, played the service anthems and Amazing Grace.
Over 20 World War II veterans were present with the oldest being Col. Donald Longer at 105. Robert Hilliard, 98, spoke about the liberation of a concentration camp in Austria after the war, making the sacrifices meaningful.
Tom Ferguson from VFW Post 4353 presented the POW/MIA table ceremony. John Roberts from VFW Post 100127 lead the flag folding ceremony with assistance from LCSO Honor Guard.
Aptaker, the chair of the Lee County Spirit of ’45, was presented with a lifetime appreciation award for her involvement in the event.
Every attendee received a commemorative coin which was donated by the family of Medal Of Honor winner Woody Williams, USMC, Iwo Jima.
It was an honor to be part of this event and also sobering to realize that the Greatest Generation is quickly shrinking, and we shall never forget them or what they did to ensure that the United States of America became a world power and the leader in the spread of freedom.