Veterans Day message from Mayor Ward

Press release from the City of Gainesville

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward issued the following statement today:

Veterans Day is not about grand speeches or parades, though both are fitting. It’s about quiet courage — the kind that lives in the hearts of those who raised their right hand and said, “I’ll go.” It’s about the moments that never made the headlines: the long nights, the steady work, and the belief that what they were doing mattered.

Here in Gainesville, we are surrounded by neighbors who have worn the uniform. Some still carry the habits of service in their everyday lives — mentoring youth, volunteering at the VA, checking in on a friend who needs it. Their example reminds us that service doesn’t end when the uniform comes off.
Today we honor all who have served and those who still serve. We remember that freedom is not a permanent condition but a daily inheritance, entrusted to us by their sacrifice. May we live in a way that is worthy of their trust. 

Harvey