By Phoenix and Metric

When it comes to helping Veterans, few places can match the efforts of American Legion Post 69 in Avon Park. To kick off the year in a “BIG” way, they hosted a three-day event starting with an escort by the Patriot Guard Riders of the Traveling Vietnam Veterans Wall and Desert Storm Memorial Wall on Friday. The escort starts in Lake Wales twenty-two miles from the post in remembrance of twenty-two veteran suicides each day. A “BIG THANK YOU” to the Polk County and Highlands County Sheriff’s officers for a safe escort. This year’s ride was twice the size of last year. We had over three hundred motorcycles, plus cars, jeep and trucks that stretched for miles.

State and local veteran organizations from across Florida were on hand to offer a variety of resources including therapy, counseling, and assistance with Veterans claims. There were too many organizations to acknowledge them all, but two organizations specifically caught my attention. MY WARRIOR’S PLACE in Ruskin, provides a beautiful retreat for a vacation and/or short-term transitional housing for veterans. FINAL SALUTE INC. provides homeless women veterans and their children with safe and suitable housing. Check both out online. On a lighter note, Saturday was filled with food, vendors, and entertainment. One of our own, Adam Martin with BLACKBIRD ANTHEM, provided the music all day long.

Topping off the weekend was a great poker run around some of the most beautiful roads in GOD’S Country, better known as Highlands County. It was three days of the Biggest Veterans Expo in the county, everyone enjoyed it and left with a wealth of information. If you have never attended the Veterans Expo at the American Legion Post 69 in Avon Park, you need to mark your calendar and make your reservation for next year. See you next year!!! GOD BLESS AMERICA AND THE AMERICAN VETERAN!!!