History – Page 4

Monuments & Memories: 8th ‘Flight To Honor’ Brings Local Veterans to D.C.

86 Polk County military veterans took a one-day trip to Washington to visit the war memorials.

Sgt. Pickett was a trailblazer as a detective, self-taught fingerprint amd forensics expert, and community leader.

Speakers include Beverly Boatwright and David Towns, who were involved in local civil rights issues as youths.

The small gathering was delighted to discover that a second mosaic mural that had been covered up appears intact.

Painters whitewashed the mosaic artwork in 2016. The paint was carefully removed this past week.

Special thanks went to former Detroit Tigers slugger Willie Horton, who served as grand marshal.

More than 100 groups participated in the annual event. The theme was preserving cultural history.

Highlights include the annual parade, a jazz festival, free admission to the Florida Children’s Museum and a day of service

The Lakeland film company landed rights to two books by Gilbert King about Lake County’s Willis McCall.

The tribute would be unveiled on July 4, 2026, the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.