Those who were lost seem to have been forgotten.
Outside Holmes Beach City Hall, 5801 Marina Drive, nestled between the entrance to the Anna Maria Island Butterfly Park and a rusty bike rack, is a gray sign with black letters.
The sign reads, “Holmes Beach Remembers Anna Maria Island Veterans.”
Below the words are the seals of the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard.
The sign is out of the way on the south side of the city’s main parking lot. It is the location each year in November of The Islander’s Veterans Day event.
Dead and dying plants surround the memorial. The plants are still in small plastic pots, with the little name flags tucked in the dirt.
Grass and weeds are overtaking the area behind the memorial.
Pieces of trash lay packed in the weeds.
“It’s a sad state, a real shame,” said Holmes Beach Commissioner Pat Morton.
Memorial Day this year is Monday, May 25. It’s a day set aside to remember the people who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Events of the day are usually marked with U.S. citizens visiting memorials and cemeteries to honor those who gave everything.
In Holmes Beach, the memorial looks forgotten.
When asked about who is supposed to take care of the memorial, faces at city hall went blank. Clerks inside the building pointed to public works.
However, asked about the memorial, public works director Gary Blunden said he didn’t know there was one.
“Something needs to be done,” said Morton, a veteran.
Holmes Beach Mayor Bob Johnson said the city is looking into cleaning up the area. “It’s a mess and needs to be cleaned up. We’re looking into it to see what needs to be done.”
He added public works will have the memorial area cleaned up by Memorial Day.
Reporter Tal Reeve is a U.S. Navy veteran.
Total U.S. combat deaths in major wars:
• American Revolution (1775-1783): 4,435.
• War of 1812 (1812-1815): 2,260.
• Civil War (1861-1865): 214,938.
• World War I (1917-1918): 53,402.
• Word War II (1941-1945): 291,557.
• Korean War (1950-1953): 33,739.
• Vietnam War (1964-1975): 47,434.
• Desert Shield/Desert Storm (1990-1991): 148.
• Operation Iraqi Freedom: 3,482.
• Operation Enduring Freedom: 1,832.