Support for local veterans coalesces at rally

A rally in support of military veterans on Saturday evening drew speaker after speaker raving about the local veteran community and the need for local veterans to be active politically.

The Concerned Veterans for America organized the “Honoring Our Veterans” rally at the Gainesville Harley-Davidson dealership on Northwest 97th Boulevard. Radio personality Bob Rose addressed the crowd throughout the evening and introduced several of the guest speakers.

“We are grateful to you and your families,” Rose told the veterans and their families about an hour into the rally.

The rally offered free food and beer for the crowd, while the Black Water Band from Fort Myers played a variety of rock and country music.

Republican U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho was among the speakers, and he talked about his respect for the veteran community and his voting record on legislation that affects it.

Gainesville Harley-Davidson did not organize the rally, but only offered a venue, said Kevin Lytle, general manager of the dealership.

“They were a great organization to partner with,” he said.

There is a large degree of overlap between the dealership’s clientele and the veteran community, Lytle added.

Several of the speakers focused on getting the veteran community involved in local, state and federal politics.

Kat Skipper, the first female Marine in combat operations in Operation Desert Storm, spoke to the crowd and encouraged them to take an interest in issues such as health care for current and former military members.

Other speakers included Alachua County Commissioner Susan Baird, who expressed her gratitude for veterans; Bob Gasche, a World War II and Korean Water veteran who received the Purple Heart Medal 50 years after being wounded; and Gary Bernsten, regional director for the Concerned Veterans for America and former Central Intelligence Agency officer.

Concerned Veterans for America is an activist group focused on organizing veterans and their families around the issues that affect them, said Stephen Flanagan, CVA director for Florida. Concerned Veterans for America is non-partisan and engages in issues-based outreach, he said.

The biggest goal is getting the veteran community out to vote, Flanagan said.

Don Grove, director of alumni affairs for the University of Florida Collegiate Veterans Society, said Saturday’s event was mainly by veterans, for veterans. Aside from a show of gratitude and appreciation, it served as a venue for them to connect with each other and discuss economic, social and political issues affecting them.

As the rally winded down, Flanagan promised this would not be the last rally for veterans. His organization will be hosting similar events around the state to show appreciation for service members and their families, he said.

“The whole intent is to thank our veterans and back them up,” Flanagan said.