Lake Worth to unveil monument to military at Veterans Day event
City officials to hold Ceremony of Honor after parade Saturday.
LAKE WORTH — About a year ago, John Endruschat was checking out the city’s annual Veterans Day celebration downtown and noticed something missing.
“We saw monuments in other cities that were very prominent for the military and we thought Lake Worth should have one to recognize our veterans,” said Endruschat, a Rotary Club of Lake Worth member for 35 years. “The primary thing is to recognize people who serve in all branches.”
On Saturday after the parade, the city will unveil a military monument that will do just that.
The plaque reads: “In honor of all veterans who served in times of war and peace and in memory of those who gave their lives for our country.”
The monument cost about $10,000, but total budget for the entire project was close to $16,000, Endruschat said.
“This monument means all of us in the community recognize and appreciate what our military has done for our nation and all of its citizens,” he said.
Endruschat said the city raised the money from various donors.
Retha Lowe, another Rotary Club member and former city commissioner, said the project has been in the works for about six months.
“The city gave us permission to put it in the Cultural Plaza,” ON FACEBOOK
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Lowe said.
The parade starts at 11 a.m. on the corner of Lucerne Avenue and Federal Highway, with the Ceremony of Honor to begin immediately after, probably around noon.
The festivities will feature local community groups, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue and many school bands.
As for new wrinkles, Lauren Bennett, the city’s leisure services director, said Lake Worth
is trying to recruit veterans who want to participate.
The city has been running the parade for six years, Bennett said. It spends $14,500 on the parade, the same as last year, she added.
This year’s ceremony, however, will be a little different.
“That’s such a huge plaque,” Rowe said. “We want to continue to recognize our veterans and to show respect.”