City of Fort Lauderdale Salutes Veterans at Inaugural Commemoration Event

Ceremony will Rededicate F-86H Sabre Jet Memorial

Angela Sabina DiPietro, Public Information Specialist
(954) 828-4777 or angelas@fortlauderdale.gov

Fort Lauderdale – The City of Fort Lauderdale in cooperation with the Air Force Association, Gold Coast Chapter 351, will host a Veteran’s Day Commemoration to recognize the men and women who have honorably served in the Armed Forces of the United States of America. The ceremony will take place on Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at 11 a.m. in Holiday Park, located at 800 N.E. 8th Street in Fort Lauderdale. This event is free and open to the public.

The event will include a keynote address from Korean War Double Ace Major General Frederick C. “Boots” Blesse. Blesse is recognized as one of the Air Force’s outstanding fighter pilots. His decorated military career spans 30 years including two volunteer combat tours and 223 missions during the Korean War. Of those missions, 121 were in the F-86 Saber Jet. Blesse is also the author of No Guts, No Glory, which presents clear information about fighter pilot tactics and an essential pattern of thought necessary for survival in air-to-air combat.

Other event highlights will include speakers from the Fort Lauderdale City Commission, recognition of local veterans organizations and a musical performance by students from the Dillard Center for the Arts. The ceremony will culminate with the rededication of the newly restored F-86H Sabre Jet Memorial.

The Air Force Association, Gold Coast Chapter 351, plans to kickoff the Veteran’s Day festivities with a breakfast program at 8:45 a.m. at the Tower Club, located at 100 S.E. 3rd Avenue in downtown Fort Lauderdale. The breakfast will also feature a speech by Major General Blesse. Tickets for the breakfast are $18 and may be purchase by contacting Ran Meriam at (954) 575-1069.