I recently met Mr. Holzerland a 98 year oldWWII, US Navy Veteran who served for five years enlisting at the age of 19.We met though the ”Helping Hands Program” initiated by Daryl Laton, owner of Seven Lakes Painting +.
It is estimated that there are less than120,000 out of approximately 16,000,000 Veterans that fought and served our country in WWII, still living to tell their stories.
Yielding to the inalterable process of aging, the men and women who fought and won the great conflict are now in their 90s or older. They are passing too quickly according to US Department of Veterans Affairs statistics.
The passing of the “Greatest Generation” is seen as symbolic by some, as for many people they represented the era when the United States’ power on the world stage was at its greatest.
To put this in perspective, Seventy-one years after the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo, Northwest Florida hosted the Raider’s final reunion, in 2013.
Mr. Holzerland is proud to be on our Seven Lakes, Wall Of Honor, and although in a wheelchair, he has attended every dedication and ceremony that have taken place every November beginning in 2021.
In the ceremony scheduled to be heldon November 4th the Board Of Directors are going to be dedicating a black granite plaque in his honor.
Bud Holzerland2023
In Memory Of All Those That Served In WWII You Will Be Forever Remembered For Allowing Us To Enjoy Our Freedom Today
I had the honor of meeting ”Bud” his wife Marilyn and their daughter Karen that have been residents for 37 years though the Helping Hands Program.
Daryl, his father Doug an Army, Coast Guard and Air Force Veteran and his daughter Stacie volunteered through the program to paint Buds’ deck on the West side.The family is very appreciative of the program Bud saw featured in the Seven Lakes News.
