- March 13, 2025
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Ocoee City Commissioner George Oliver III gave the invocation at the city’s Memorial Day program. Behind him are commissioners Richard Firstner, left, and Rosemary Wilsen; keynote speaker retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Yolanda Frazier; Ocoee Mayor Rusty Johnson; and Pam Jones, community relations representative for Congressman Daniel Webster.
The Ocoee Police Department Honor Guard presented the colors.
The Ocoee Police Department Honor Guard presented the colors.
Jaslynn Gaskin, of Ocoee High School, sang the national anthem at the Memorial Day ceremony.
Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Yolanda Frazier addressed the crowd and spoke of servant heart leadership.
Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Yolanda Frazier addressed the crowd and spoke of servant heart leadership.
Debbie Berry accepted a yellow rose from the city of Ocoee. Berry’s brother, Paul Lloyd Berry, 21, was killed in the Vietnam War. He was a warrant officer and helicopter pilot.
The Ocoee Police Department Honor Guard posted the colors and lowered the flag to half-staff.
Marcus Jiao, of Ocoee High School, played a beautiful rendition of taps.
Ocoee Commissioners Richard Firstner, George Oliver III and Rosemary Wilsen and Mayor Rusty Johnson took turns reading the names of Ocoee residents who were killed while on active duty.
At Ocoee’s Memorial Day program: Ocoee commissioners Richard Firstner and George Oliver III; Pam Jones, community relations representative for Congressman Daniel Webster; keynote speaker retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Yolanda Frazier; Ocoee Mayor Rusty Johnson; and Ocoee Commissioner Rosemary Wilsen.
Debbie Berry, left, Margaret Colella and Gwen Taliver were recognized for the loss of a loved one in military combat. Berry’s brother and Colella’s husband were killed in the Vietnam War, and Taliver’s grandson was killed in Iraq.
The city of Ocoee honored its fallen soldiers at its annual Memorial Day ceremony Thursday, May 23, at the Ocoee Lakeshore Center.
Retired Lt. Col. Colonel Yolanda Frazier, who has 30 years of service in the United States Army, serving in Kuwait and deploying to Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom, was the keynote speaker.
The Ocoee Police Department Honor Guard presented the colors, and Pam Jones read a message from U.S. Rep. Daniel Webster’s office. Ocoee High School students took part in the program, as well — Jaslynn Gaskin sang the national anthem, and Marcus Jiao played taps by the city’s memorial wall.
After a processional to the memorial site, at which a memorial wreath was placed, members of the City Commission read the list of Ocoee residents who died in battle: Billy Bennett, James W. Brown, James W. Bruce, Jack Corbin, Charles Day, Robert L. Day, Buford Gerald Johnson, Robert G. Fischer, Logan A. McNeil, George Robert Salisbury, James S. Simmons, Walter I. Turner, Dominic Ungaro Jr. and Eric Ulysses Ramirez.
Three Gold Star families were recognized. Margaret Colella’s husband, Ungaro, was killed in the Vietnam War two months after he arrived. Debbie Berry was 7 when her 21-year-old brother, Paul Lloyd Berry, an Army helicopter pilot, was killed in Vietnam. Gwen Taliver’s grandson, Sgt. Gene Hawkins, was serving in Iraq when he was killed.
