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First Vet Arrives At Festival

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@tampatrib.com

Published: March 11, 2009

PLANT CITY - A Ruskin man whose service career spanned 30 years, including service in World War II, was the first veteran through the gate March 4 as the Florida Strawberry Festival celebrated Military Day.

The festival offered free admission during the day for active, reserve and retired military men and women. The first one to enter when the gates opened was 80-year-old Dan Werner, whose military career included service with the Air Force, Army and Coast Guard.

The visit was the retiree's third to the annual strawberry festival. The retired veteran came early to watch the 4-H members with their cattle.

Military Day was sponsored by Winn-Dixie. This is the first year the festival has offered Military Day; officials haven't decided whether they will repeat it in future years. The festival association decided on the day in keeping with the 2009 theme, "Hometown Salute to America."

A festival spokeswoman said a steady stream of veterans, including some bused in from James A. Haley Veterans Hospital in Tampa, visited the festival.

Dave Nicholson

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