Sanford and Seminole County hold Memorial Day observance honoring fallen service members
May 25, 2026 | Seminole County, Florida
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SANFORD, Fla. — Hundreds gathered in downtown Sanford on May 25 for a Memorial Day remembrance ceremony presented by Castleberry Veterans and local officials, featuring proclamations from the city and Seminole County, musical tributes, the poem "In Flanders Fields" and a keynote address by Capt. Dan Sinclair.
Mayor Art Woodruff read the City of Sanford's Memorial Day proclamation and presented it to John Brumley, vice president of Castleberry Veterans. Seminole County Commissioner Amy Lockhart then read a county proclamation adopted on May 12 that affirmed May 25 as Memorial Day in Seminole County and noted the holiday’s historical origins and the scale of American military sacrifice.
Sher Norman delivered a message on behalf of U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody, and musical elements included a preamble reading by Don Guran, the Pledge of Allegiance led by Master Chief John Heistad, and the national anthem performed by Kalin D. Guzman.
Capt. Dan Sinclair, a West Point graduate and public relations officer for the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, delivered the ceremony’s keynote. Drawing on memories of classmates who died in Iraq and other deployments, Sinclair urged the audience to honor the fallen by living intentionally. "What will you do with the life that others helped secure for you?" he asked, framing Memorial Day as a call to "peace, prosperity and purpose."
The program included an invocation by Chaplain Commander Bob Eckleberger and a reading of Lt. Col. John McCrae’s poem "In Flanders Fields" by veteran Mike Jentz. Traditional military honors closed the ceremony: a two-bell toll, wreath placement by local veterans, a three-volley salute, and "Taps" and "Amazing Grace" performed by Deputy Christy Register.
Organizers recognized active-duty service members, reserves and National Guard members in attendance and asked Gold Star family members to stand; speakers emphasized the personal cost of service while urging the community to remember and support veterans and their families.
The event also referenced broader observances: county remarks cited Memorial Day’s evolution from Decoration Day and noted historical observances dating to the Civil War and a 1950 congressional resolution designating Memorial Day as a day of prayer and remembrance. The ceremony concluded with a benediction and expressions of thanks to those who attended.
No formal votes or policy actions took place during the observance. The program ended after the benediction and musical closing.
Mayor Art Woodruff read the City of Sanford's Memorial Day proclamation and presented it to John Brumley, vice president of Castleberry Veterans. Seminole County Commissioner Amy Lockhart then read a county proclamation adopted on May 12 that affirmed May 25 as Memorial Day in Seminole County and noted the holiday’s historical origins and the scale of American military sacrifice.
Sher Norman delivered a message on behalf of U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody, and musical elements included a preamble reading by Don Guran, the Pledge of Allegiance led by Master Chief John Heistad, and the national anthem performed by Kalin D. Guzman.
Capt. Dan Sinclair, a West Point graduate and public relations officer for the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, delivered the ceremony’s keynote. Drawing on memories of classmates who died in Iraq and other deployments, Sinclair urged the audience to honor the fallen by living intentionally. "What will you do with the life that others helped secure for you?" he asked, framing Memorial Day as a call to "peace, prosperity and purpose."
The program included an invocation by Chaplain Commander Bob Eckleberger and a reading of Lt. Col. John McCrae’s poem "In Flanders Fields" by veteran Mike Jentz. Traditional military honors closed the ceremony: a two-bell toll, wreath placement by local veterans, a three-volley salute, and "Taps" and "Amazing Grace" performed by Deputy Christy Register.
Organizers recognized active-duty service members, reserves and National Guard members in attendance and asked Gold Star family members to stand; speakers emphasized the personal cost of service while urging the community to remember and support veterans and their families.
The event also referenced broader observances: county remarks cited Memorial Day’s evolution from Decoration Day and noted historical observances dating to the Civil War and a 1950 congressional resolution designating Memorial Day as a day of prayer and remembrance. The ceremony concluded with a benediction and expressions of thanks to those who attended.
No formal votes or policy actions took place during the observance. The program ended after the benediction and musical closing.
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