The Tribute to Veteran Unsung Heroes honoring Vietnam Airborne veteran Rick McAllister and Air Force veteran Kris Jurski was held in Jacksonville on Saturday, Aug. 17. The program began with a luncheon at the Salem Centre Auditorium.
McAllister presented his moving and sometimes humorous pictorial story of leading a group of Vietnam veterans dealing with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) on a 500-mile healing pilgrimage across Northern Spain on the Camino se Santiago.
McAllister’s presentation of the “Last Patrol: A Pilgrimage of Brotherhood” was a fitting title for the inspiring pilgrimage of the senior veterans. The veterans delivered a scroll in memory of more than 400 Vietnam veterans to the Pilgrim’s Mass at the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral. The Apostle St. James is believed to be buried in this cathedral.
Jurski introduced the audience to The Peoples Audit, a grassroots army to help election offices maintain clean voter rolls. He explained the effect of incorrect addresses as a continual problem to election offices. The Peoples Audit program identifies the invalid addresses for correction. Jurski was surprised when pinned with a lifetime membership by the Florida Republican Assembly President Peter Kouracos for his dedication in helping election offices.
St Johns Veterans Council Chairman Bill Dudley gave an update on the Veterans Village in St. Augustine. The Veterans Village was recently opened to provide affordable transient housing for veterans in need. The Veterans Council plans to open another facility for temporary housing as funds become available. Volunteers are needed to assist at the Veterans Village.
Unsung Heroes of 2023 from the local area attending the event included Dianne Lavelle, Rose Hayden, Eadie Dumm and Takima Porter-Roach, representing her late husband Chief Petty Officer Clarence Roach.
The Atlantic Coast Young Marines presented colors and volunteered at the event.
“I was inspired to see the Atlantic Coast Young Marines once again engaging with veterans,” said veteran Marty Cleghorn. “The Young Marines always remember our Jacksonville veterans.”
