Rain Didn't Stop Devotion and Honor at Veterans Reunion

Veterans reunion kicks off at Wickham Park in Melbourne
FLORIDA TODAY
Rick Neale
May 1, 2017

Prior to the opening ceremony, a long line of representatives from more than 80 military and civic groups placed colorful flowered wreaths along the 288-foot-long wall during steady rainfall.

MELBOURNE — The framed photo of smiling U.S. Army Specialist Richard John Key laid on display between a quartet of small U.S. flags beneath Panel W21 of the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall, where his name is etched on Line 53.

The Louisiana native was only 19 when he was killed by gunfire on July 3, 1969, in the Quang Ngai Province of South Vietnam. Nearly a half-century later, the late combat engineer's photo is on display at Wickham Park at the memorial wall, where the first mourners have also placed a bouquet of peace lilies and a coffee can filled with red roses.

Monday night, hundreds of somber spectators flocked to the jet-black wall during the opening ceremony of the 30th annual Florida Vietnam and All Veterans Reunion. Drab gray skies and rainfall mixed with occasional rumblings of thunder, and most spectators congregated beneath three park pavilions to stay dry.

"It's the first step in the healing process of burdens guys have been carrying, or family members have been carrying, for over 50 years," said Doc Russo, traveling wall manager and reunion chairman.

"They may have lost comrades. They may have lost family members. And every place I go — not just here — it helps them lift a big burden. I mean, I have friends that it took me 15 years to get them to come out here to the wall. And now, they're out here volunteering because they have buddies on the wall that they lost," Russo said.

The veterans reunion begins Thursday afternoon. An array of weekend activities kicks off with a massing of the colors and helicopter landing at 11 a.m. Saturday. The closing ceremony begins at 5 p.m. Sunday.
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1,000 Motorcycles Escorted Wall into Wickham Park and Officer Hurt by Hit and Run Driver!

Cocoa Police officer injured in hit-and-run speaks out
Traffic homicide officer said he thought he was going to die
Click Orlando
By Nadeen Yanes - Reporter
May 03, 2017

COCOA, Fla. - A Cocoa police officer injured in a hit-and-run crash this week told News 6 he saw the Jeep coming and had three options: he could go left into oncoming traffic, go right into the procession, but he went straight and sacrificed himself.

"I had about, I would say, about three seconds to respond," Cocoa police Officer Rickford Leitch said.
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UPDATE
Arrest made in hit-and-run that injured Cocoa Officer

Cocoa officer injured in hit-and-run during Traveling Wall procession
FLORIDA TODAY
J.D. Gallop
April 30, 2017

A Cocoa police traffic officer is recovering Sunday afternoon after authorities said he collided with another vehicle during the annual procession escorting the Traveling Vietnam Wall to Melbourne.

A countywide alert was also issued for the driver of a blue Jeep Cherokee who was not a part of the escort but fled the scene moments after the collision left the officer briefly unconscious, officials reported.

The officer is currently in the hospital being evaluated after sustaining several injuries, according to Yvonne Martinez, spokeswoman for the Cocoa Police Department.

Police said Cocoa Police Officer Rickford Lietch was assisting with the escort along with several other police agencies when the incident happened. The procession of over 1,000 motorcycles and other vehicles had just cleared State Road 520 when Lietch headed toward the next intersection at Rosa Jones Boulevard.

The officer was traveling at 50 mph hour when a blue Jeep suddenly pulled in front of him. “He hit the driver’s side of the Jeep and flipped several times before landing on the pavement. He was briefly knocked out,” Martinez said.
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Please keep Officer Lietch in your prayers as he recovers. Just stunning a thing like this would happen with a 1,000 motorcycles escorting The Wall!

This turtle showed up crossing the road just before the bikes pulled in.

Murray was trying to figure out what it was.

Stickers from inside a golf cart we borrowed from a friend and yes, Murray got a ride on it.

The video will be up by tomorrow, so check back. Until then, go to the above link at Florida Today for the video they did.

UPDATE...Video finally done!