Deltona and Pierson are the two latest West Volusia municipalities to join the ranks of the nation’s Purple Heart cities. Other Volusia County cities with the veteran-honoring designation include DeLand, Ormond Beach and others.
BEACON PHOTO/AL EVERSON A NEW HONOR — Deltona is bolstering its reputation as a Purple Heart city, by setting aside parking spaces for former U.S. military personnel who received the Purple Heart. Florida Sen. Tom Wright, R-Port Orange, presents new signs to be placed at city facilities, notably City Hall, The Center at Deltona, and Veterans Memorial Park. With Wright are, from left, Rolf Mattar, a Marine veteran wounded in Vietnam and the commander of the Florida Department of the Military Order of the Purple Heart; Daytona Beach City Commissioner Stacy Cantu, whose father, a Marine, was killed in the Vietnam War; and Orange City Council Member Alex Tiamson, a Marine Corps veteran. — Al Everson
BEACON PHOTO/AL EVERSON UNITED — Veterans and officials stand together to recognize Purple Heart recipients. From left are George Taylor Jr., Bonnie Hanes, Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 316 Cmdr. John Hanes, Deltona City Commissioners Loren King and Dana McCool, Orange City Council Member Alex Tiamson, Military Order of the Purple Heart Florida Cmdr. Rolf Mattar with his service dog, Reiko, Deltona Commissioner Victor Ramos, Sen. Tom Wright, Deltona Commissioner Maritza Avila-Vazquez, Center Events Manager Joe Hearn, Daytona Beach City Commissioner Stacy Cantu, Deltona Vice Mayor Anita Bradford, Deltona Commissioner David Sosa, and Daytona Beach Marine Corps League Commandant Sam McCloud.
— Al Everson
PHOTO COURTESY CARMEN SPELORZI, TOWN OF PIERSON HONORED IN NORTH VOLUSIA, TOO — Rolf Mattar and John Hanes from the Military Order of the Purple Heart Department of Florida join Pierson Town Council Member Sergia Cardenas, far left, and Pierson Mayor Samuel G.S. Bennett, far right, to celebrate Pierson joining the ranks of West Volusia’s Purple Heart cities. The induction means the Town of Pierson will now reserve some parking spaces for combat-wounded veterans. — Noah Hertz
