Bilirakis To Speak At Saint Leo Veterans Day Ceremony

SAINT LEO, FL – Congressman Gus Bilirakis knows a thing or two about veterans.

The Republican from Palm Harbor, who represents Florida’s 12th Congressional District covering Pasco and parts of Pinellas and Hillsborough, is co-chairman of the Military Veterans Caucus and vice chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee.

Bilirakis is scheduled to be the guest speaker for Saint Leo University’s annual Veterans Day ceremony at University Campus, 33701 State Road 52. The event is set to take place at 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 10 at Dempsey Plaza near the For Those Who Serve statue between the Student Activities Building and Student Community Center. A reception will follow the ceremony.

The school has invited the community and area veterans to the free event, which will feature student-veterans, music and addresses by Bilirakis and Dr. William J. Lennox, Jr. Lennox, the university’s president, is a retired U.S. Army lieutenant general and former superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, NY.

Bilirakis was first elected to Congress on Nov. 7, 2006, and currently is serving his sixth term in the U.S. House of Representatives. Along with his committee work, Bilirakis has worked with local and national VA officials to expand the Pasco County VA Outpatient Clinic, bringing additional healthcare services, such mental health services and dental care, to area veterans.

Amber Mott, Class of 2021, will sing the National Anthem for the Veterans Day ceremony. Saint Leo alumnus Ralph Sailer, retired U.S. Army, will perform “Taps.” Other performances scheduled include Eddie Gemma, Class of 2018, who will sing “Arlington,” and Olivia Callahan, Class of 2019.

Student-veteran speakers include Eric Cox, Class of 2018, a private first class in the U.S. Army from 2006-09; and Jennifer Harman, Class of 2019, a petty officer second class in the U.S. Navy Reserves from 2003-13.

Saint Leo University has more than 5,000 veterans and nearly 4,500 active-duty military members enrolled around the world.

For more information about the Veterans Day ceremony, or if attendees require special accommodations, contact Liz Vestal at (352) 588-8482 or Elizabeth.vestal@saintleo.edu.

Image courtesy of Saint Leo University