Santa Rosa County Memorial Day Information
The Veterans Memorial Plaza’s annual Memorial Day ceremony will be held Monday, May 26 at 10 a.m., at 5191 Willing Street in Milton, in remembrance of the brave men and women who gave their lives while serving our country.
Veterans Memorial Foundation member Daniel Powers will open the ceremony, featuring:
- March on the Colors- Milton High School JROTC Color Guard
- The National Anthem- Milton High School Choir
- Retire the Colors- Milton High School JROTC Color Guard
- Invocation- Chaplain Victoria Smith, NAS Whiting Field
- Proclamation from City of Milton Mayor Heather Lindsey and Santa Rosa County District Two Commissioner Kerry Smith
- Guest speaker Col. Andrew Kellner, Deputy Commodore, Training Air Wing FIVE, NAS Whiting Field
- Wreath presentation by veteran organizations
- Taps- Milton High School Band
Colonel Kellner’s operational assignments include Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 369 from 2003 to 2006 where he deployed twice in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (OIF) and completed a third deployment with the 31st MEU. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines where he served as the Battalion Air Officer and deployed to Ar Ramadi, Iraq in 2007. He returned to HMLA-369 and deployed again to OIF in 2008 as the Future Operations/Plans Officer and Weapons and Tactics Instructor. In 2013, he again reported to HMLA-369 and deployed to Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM in 2014 and served as the Squadron Aircraft Maintenance Officer and Operations Officer, and converted from the AH-1W to the AH-1Z.
In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be canceled.
Navarre Park Memorial Day Ceremony
In the south end of the county, a Memorial Day ceremony will be held Monday, May 26 at 11 a.m. at Navarre Park, 8513 Navarre Parkway in Navarre. The Navarre High School Honor Guard and Navy Junior ROTC will provide the color guard, national anthem singers and buglers for Taps.
Following open ceremonies, Ryan Blackwell, survivor of the 2019 Pensacola NAS terrorist attack and awardee of the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for Heroism & Purple Heart, will deliver the keynote address. Various local organizations will lay wreaths in memoriam. The Navarre American Legion Post 382 will serve lunch following the ceremony.
Santa Rosa County Holiday Closures
The following offices will be closed Monday, May 26 for Memorial Day:
- Santa Rosa County Board of Commissioners including the library system, veterans services, animal services, extension services and the Central Landfill.
- Santa Rosa County Animal Services will also be closed Saturday, May 24.
- Santa Rosa County 9-1-1 dispatch, Lifeguard Ambulance Service and fire departments are open daily.
- Santa Rosa County Clerk of the Court
- Santa Rosa County Property Appraiser
- Santa Rosa County Supervisor of Elections
- Santa Rosa County Tax Collector
