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Hopewell Service Honors Veterans

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By GEORGE H. NEWMAN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 17, 2007

PLANT CITY - The 22nd annual veterans appreciation ceremony at a local funeral home attracted a full house.

The main hall at Hopewell Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens was crowded with 300 people, including about 100 children who took part in the hourlong program. The Nov. 10 ceremony included an opening prayer, patriotic songs, guest speakers from local schools and a candle-lighting ceremony in honor of American veterans.

Unlike many Veterans Day ceremonies, the one at Hopewell features children in most roles.

About 90 students from Springhead Elementary chorus, led by director Charla Kerwin and her assistant, teacher Jennifer Burrows, sang such standards as "Heart of America," "Those Who Serve" and "Celebrate." Students from Springhead performed choreographed steps using flags and banners during each rendition.

Jessi Varnum, a student at Turkey Creek Middle School, opened the program by singing the national anthem.

Speaker Brittany Nesbitt, a Springhead Elementary student who also sang in the school chorus, said members on both sides of her family are serving in the armed forces overseas.

Louis Arellano of Burney Elementary; sisters Amanda and Ashley Perdue of Pinecrest Elementary; Jessica Moore and Elizabeth Padilla of Walden Lake Elementary; and Durant High School's Latasha Holmes also spoke.

Amanda Perdue read the famous World War I poem "In Flanders Fields," written by a physician in the Canadian army.

Ashley Perdue mentioned a family member fighting in Iraq.

"They are really brave," she said of those defending freedom around the world.

Moore gave the history of Veterans Day and what it means to her. Padilla remembered members of her family who have served in the Navy.

Holmes, a junior at Durant, spoke about her father, Army Sgt. Michael Daly.

"He has been serving in Iraq since July," Holmes said. "He said this tour will last 15 months. He serves in the Army communications unit. I talk with him about twice each month. I thank him for everything. Without him and the veterans like him I don't know what we would do."

Mitch Kerwin, husband of Springhead Elementary's music director, helped close the ceremony with the stirring tones of taps, the famous bugle call used by the military since the Civil War to end each day and remember all soldiers.

"I get many requests to perform taps at funerals and memorial services," Kerwin said. "There seems to be a shortage of people who play taps anymore. I cringe when I hear it on a recording at a public ceremony."

Edwena Haney, the president at Hopewell and master of ceremonies, was pleased with the turnout for the program, which never uses elected leaders as featured speakers.

"At the very least," Haney told the crowd, "This is better than listening to some politician rattling on about Veterans Day."

The audience responded with a round of applause.

Reporter George H. Newman can be reached at (813) 865-4451 or gnewman@tampatrib.com.

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