The Rotary Club of Palm Valley honored local fallen heroes at the Jacksonville National Veterans Cemetery on D-Day, June 6, by laying coins on the headstones of veterans who died serving our country.
The idea emerged when Rotary member, Dave Gleason, was serving in the Patriots Outpost at The PLAYERS Championship in March. He was given a beautiful Challenge Coin by Rod Hanks, United States Navy, the commander of The Sullivans ship anchored in Mayport. After researching the symbolism and significance of such coins, Gleason presented the idea to his Rotary Club that honoring our fallen heroes on D-Day would be a great service project the club could support.
Challenge Coins are given out by all branches of the military for outstanding service, special assignments and honorary accomplishments. The symbolism of the coins that are used to honor the fallen warriors dates back to the Roman Empire.
Different coins are typically used by individuals visiting the soldiers’ graves. Rotary Club members and friends placed ceremonial pennies on the top of the gravestones to signify that they visited and honored a fallen hero. The money raised by the club and the pennies laid on the gravestones will be donated to the cemetery for maintenance.
Among those attending this memorial event were Commander Hanks’ wife, Alissa Hanks, Mayport Naval Base Ombudsman Dawn Niehaus and two recent high school graduates, Kirt Harrington and Declan Riely, who will attend West Point Military Academy this year. Rotary Club members, Carol Maurer and Michelle King participated along with Gleason and other guests.
