By Leon Fooksman, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
November 12, 2007

BOYNTON BEACH - Despite pain, weariness and the ravages of age, local veterans dressed in military uniforms pinned with medals gathered Sunday for the annual Veterans Day ceremony at Intracoastal Park.

Some had to be helped to their feet as they stood to salute the flag. But they came with a purpose.

“You can never forget,” said Harry Levitt, a World War II veteran.

About 200 former soldiers, their family members and dignitaries filled a tent to hear uplifting speeches about honoring veterans in a time of war. They took pictures of the color guard and heard the somber blare of the bugler and a bagpiper. They placed flowers and miniature American flags next to the park’s memorials and stood in silence as the flag for the missing soldiers was unfurled.

“We are here to pay tribute to our buddies,” said David Winegar, 83, who fought in the Battle of the Bulge. “I think about them everyday.”

At times, the speakers could barely be heard over the boom of hip-hop music from a distant birthday party � a point many in the crowd noted as evidence of the nation’s lack of respect for its veterans. Yet the dignitaries pressed on, declaring that the battles in Afghanistan and Iraq should be a rallying point to support veterans.

“Thank you. We use those words every day,” said state Rep. Adam Hasner, R-Delray Beach. “So when you think about it, it’s a shame we don’t say ‘thank you’ [to veterans]. We need to say ‘thank you’ every day.”

Boynton Beach Mayor Jerry Taylor said Americans need to support current conflicts with the same vigor given to previous wars.

“Some will tell you it’s President Bush’s war. I say this is America’s war,” said Taylor, a U.S. Air Force veteran.

He stressed the need to befriend veterans and hear their stories, even if: “They may not have much to say or they say more than you wanted to know.”

An aide to U.S. Rep. Ron Klein, D-Boca Raton, presented a flag to be flown over a new city veterans memorial. The flag has flown over the U.S. Capitol building.

World War II veteran Joe Popolizio, 82, wished more people attended the ceremony to gain an appreciation for what soldiers have gone through.

“We lost reverence for the veterans. It got away from us over the years,” he said.

Another former soldier, Frank Boncore, 82, agreed that the nation needs to pay tribute to its troops, especially now with the fighting raging in Iraq. He glanced toward the distant birthday party and nodded his head in disappointment.

“It’s not their war,” Boncore said.

Leon Fooksman can be reached at lfooksman@sun-sentinel.com or 561-243-6674.

Copyright � 2007, South Florida Sun-Sentinel