America's troops routinely leave their families for far away destinations. Because of their sacrifice and service, we civilians are safely at home with our own.
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Collaborating for VeteransThe Sarasota National Cemetery Advisory Committee collaborates with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to further the objectives of Sarasota National Cemetery. Our Advisory Committee, sometimes simply referred to as this national cemetery's Ad-Com, holds 501(c)3 tax exempt nonprofit status.
Our mission is twofold. We're educating communities about the service and sacrifice of U.S. military veterans, those living and deceased. We're also building Sarasota National Cemetery's capacity to perform as a national shrine. Our collaboration with this national cemetery delivers programs that honor veterans. The programs connect visitors and communities to public events. Patriot Plaza, the cemetery's amphitheatre, is a unique gathering place at the national cemetery for remembering, learning and sharing.
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STEVEN TAYLOR HAYES SPC, US ARMYINVISIBLE WOUNDS OF WAR
Steven Taylor Hayes left the battlefield after sustaining a brain injury. He returned home and committed suicide. Sarasota National Cemetery Advisory Committee helps Americans understand the sacrifice and loss of Gold Star families. Their sons and daughters died from injuries sustained in battle and in combat theaters. Under specific conditions, brain injuries and disorders can now be recognized as war-sustained injuries leading to death. Watch this ABC7 Special Report. |
Volunteers Gladly Giving Back
Board of Directors
Chairwoman
Renée James Gilmore is a marketing and business consultant. She is also the host of a community affairs program on ABC7 - WWSB television. She joined Sarasota National Cemetery Advisory Committee in 2014 and was selected as chairman. Describing her chairmanship, Gilmore says, "This is some of the most rewarding volunteer work one can do. I have family members that went off to territories in conflict. We agonized everyday they were away. It wasn't easy for them to transition back into civilian life-- as though nothing out of the norm had occurred. Fortunately, neighbors and friends helped connect my family's veterans with employment and affordable housing. From those personal experiences, I learned the importance of support systems. Everyone in this organization learned similar lessons. Those personal connections to veterans are a reason we work diligently to be a strong resource." |
White House Recognition for Innovation
Gilmore is also actively engaged with Sarasota County Veterans Commission, which is a collaboration bringing the full force and power of veterans organizations together to help veterans access counseling, housing, employment and resources that sometime seem to be best kept secrets. Formerly, Gilmore led a $36 million nonprofit that was charged with organizing interagency responses to workforce and economic development dilemmas. For nearly 20 years, she led government initiatives to improve performance outcomes across multiple agencies. Gilmore received recognition from the White House for infusing sound business principles into government systems and increasing the capacity of tax-funded programs to respond to marketplace challenges. Federal and state programs for veterans were included in her responsibility. During her early career she helped launch new technologies at a national telecom (now Verizon), honing strategic planning and product development skills. She is one of the rare fourth generation Floridians. She believes her familiarity with the state's history, people and politics is helpful in community service. She earned a Master of Business Administration Degree at Clark-Atlanta University and Bachelor of Science in Broadcast Communications at Florida A&M University.
Gilmore is also actively engaged with Sarasota County Veterans Commission, which is a collaboration bringing the full force and power of veterans organizations together to help veterans access counseling, housing, employment and resources that sometime seem to be best kept secrets. Formerly, Gilmore led a $36 million nonprofit that was charged with organizing interagency responses to workforce and economic development dilemmas. For nearly 20 years, she led government initiatives to improve performance outcomes across multiple agencies. Gilmore received recognition from the White House for infusing sound business principles into government systems and increasing the capacity of tax-funded programs to respond to marketplace challenges. Federal and state programs for veterans were included in her responsibility. During her early career she helped launch new technologies at a national telecom (now Verizon), honing strategic planning and product development skills. She is one of the rare fourth generation Floridians. She believes her familiarity with the state's history, people and politics is helpful in community service. She earned a Master of Business Administration Degree at Clark-Atlanta University and Bachelor of Science in Broadcast Communications at Florida A&M University.
Vice Chairman
Robert 'Bob' Ness was an Army platoon sergeant with Recon, 3/8 Infantry, 4th Infantry Division in the mountains of Vietnam. Ness was wounded in action in Vietnam. At Ft. Lewis, Washington, Ness was a drill sergeant . He believes it is important to be aware of the sacrifice that military families must endure and especially families who have made the ultimate sacrifice. With only four-tenths of one percent of the population now serving in U.S. armed forces it is easy to lose sight of their sacrifice. As a way of honoring hose who sacrificed, Ness began volunteering at Sarasota National Cemetery shortly after its 2009 groundbreaking. Ness earned a Master of Science degree from the School of Advanced Technology, State University of New York at Binghamton (now the Thomas J. Watson School of Engineering and Applied Science). While there he taught software development at the graduate level and |
performed research for the National Bureau of Standards in the area of energy conservation. He was the head of software development at the corporate headquarters of a Fortune 500 high-tech company in Boston with twenty-three publicly traded companies which, at the time, was considered one, if not the most, complex companies in existence. He designed and developed multidimensional analytical software that resulted in interest from Microsoft Corporation into including the technology in Excel as well as MIT’s Laboratory for Computer Science. His undergraduate degree in psychology was awarded by State University of New York.
Hailed and Featured for Educational Technology
As a consultant Ness' clients included Fortune 500 companies and the U.S. State Department and the Bureau of Naval Personnel. Ness and his colleagues developed a web repository of over five thousand family educational activities for babies to teens, www.familytlc.net. The site has been widely hailed and featured in such publications as “Must See Websites for Busy Teachers” and “Must See Websites for Parents and Kids”.
Hailed and Featured for Educational Technology
As a consultant Ness' clients included Fortune 500 companies and the U.S. State Department and the Bureau of Naval Personnel. Ness and his colleagues developed a web repository of over five thousand family educational activities for babies to teens, www.familytlc.net. The site has been widely hailed and featured in such publications as “Must See Websites for Busy Teachers” and “Must See Websites for Parents and Kids”.
Chaplain
Ted Smith enlisted in the US Marine Corps while attending West Orange High School in New Jersey. He reported to boot camp at Parris Island, S.C., June 29, 1960. Graduation included outstanding marksman of Platoon 161. Sea duty included the USS York County (LST-1175), embarking on the South Atlantic Amity cruise to Africa as part of President Kennedy’s People to People diplomacy. Recalling a remarkable experience, Smith says, "Enroute, King Neptune granted us pollywogs 'Shellback' status as we crossed the equator. Mediterranean Sea duty, thirteen months at Camp Butler in Okinawa and final duty at Marine Corps Air Wing, Cherry Point, N.C. For all men and women who stood up and wore the cloth of their nation, may we always remember, be proud, and most of all be thankful.” |
Mr. Smith's discharge completed four years of Honor, Courage, and Commitment at Cpl. E-4 rank. After discharge he started a 37-year sales career with Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals. Half of his career was spent in New Jersey and then promotions and transfers to Seattle, WA and Sarasota, Florida.
Escorting Honor Flights for WWII Veterans
Mr. Smith has contributed countless volunteer hours to veterans’ causes since retiring and making Sarasota his home. The Kairos Prison Ministry nurtured a desire to help others through God’s character in both my attitudes and actions. The Sarasota County Veterans Commission offered that opportunity as Vice President and Chaplain. More volunteering opportunities came about with the Tidewell Hospice Honored Veteran Program, guardian and escort for the Southwest Florida Honor Flights to the WWII Memorial, and service support for indigent veteran burials at Sarasota National Cemetery. Ted and his wife Carol have two daughters, April and Jill, five grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Oh yes, we must include Daisy and Oscar (the family's miniature dachshunds).
Escorting Honor Flights for WWII Veterans
Mr. Smith has contributed countless volunteer hours to veterans’ causes since retiring and making Sarasota his home. The Kairos Prison Ministry nurtured a desire to help others through God’s character in both my attitudes and actions. The Sarasota County Veterans Commission offered that opportunity as Vice President and Chaplain. More volunteering opportunities came about with the Tidewell Hospice Honored Veteran Program, guardian and escort for the Southwest Florida Honor Flights to the WWII Memorial, and service support for indigent veteran burials at Sarasota National Cemetery. Ted and his wife Carol have two daughters, April and Jill, five grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Oh yes, we must include Daisy and Oscar (the family's miniature dachshunds).
Treasurer
Donald Courtney, CWO4, USA (Ret)
Donald ‘Don’ Courtney’s commitment to the Army began in 1961, as a 17-year old high school graduate. After only two months at Fort Bliss, TX, Don married Donna, his high school girlfriend, then left for Korea. During Chief Courtney's 30-year military career, he was assigned to Fort Leonard Wood MO; Fort Monmouth NJ; Fort Dix NJ; Fort Gordon GA; Fort Bliss TX; Korea; Fort Huachuca AZ; Vietnam; University of Wisconsin (ROTC Duty) Madison; Heidelberg Germany; Oberammergau Germany; Fort Meade MD; Darmstadt Germany; Fort Monroe VA; Stuttgart Germany; and the Armed Forces Radiobiological Research Institute in Bethesda, MD. After retiring, Don and Donna settled in Bradenton, Florida.
Among Chief Courtney’s awards are: Meritorious Service Medal; Army Commendation Medal
with 2 bronze oak clusters; Good Conduct Medal 4th Award; National Defense Service Medal
with 1 bronze service star; and the Overseas Service Ribbon with numeral 2.
Donald Courtney, CWO4, USA (Ret)
Donald ‘Don’ Courtney’s commitment to the Army began in 1961, as a 17-year old high school graduate. After only two months at Fort Bliss, TX, Don married Donna, his high school girlfriend, then left for Korea. During Chief Courtney's 30-year military career, he was assigned to Fort Leonard Wood MO; Fort Monmouth NJ; Fort Dix NJ; Fort Gordon GA; Fort Bliss TX; Korea; Fort Huachuca AZ; Vietnam; University of Wisconsin (ROTC Duty) Madison; Heidelberg Germany; Oberammergau Germany; Fort Meade MD; Darmstadt Germany; Fort Monroe VA; Stuttgart Germany; and the Armed Forces Radiobiological Research Institute in Bethesda, MD. After retiring, Don and Donna settled in Bradenton, Florida.
Among Chief Courtney’s awards are: Meritorious Service Medal; Army Commendation Medal
with 2 bronze oak clusters; Good Conduct Medal 4th Award; National Defense Service Medal
with 1 bronze service star; and the Overseas Service Ribbon with numeral 2.
Awarded Veteran of the Year
Chief Courtney continues to demonstrate service to our country. He has been Chairman of the Manatee County Veterans Council for a total of 10 years. In 2004, that organization named Mr. Courtney Manatee County Veteran of the Year. Courtney is Chairman of the District 8 Ombudsman Program for Hillsborough and Manatee counties. As such, he is entrusted by Florida's Department of Elder Affairs with protecting some of the state's most vulnerable residents. |
He is President of the Military Officers Association of America, Bradenton Chapter. He has held the positions of Commander of the Military Order of the World Wars and Region VI Commander for the organization. He is a member of the Korean War Veterans Honor Guard; American Legion Post 24; DAV 18; VFW Post 10141; and other groups dedicated to assisting veterans. |
Secretary
Patti Bender and her husband of 43 years, Wayne, relocated from upstate New York to Venice, FL in 1990. She began volunteering as a receptionist at Sarasota National Cemetery in November, 2012, after her husband was interned in the pristine grounds. Wayne Bender had served in the US Air Force and trained as a medic. Recruited to join the Advisory Committee in 2015, Mrs. Bender explains, “I was flattered and honored to become a part of such a critical component of Sarasota National Cemetery. Wayne and I were always acutely aware of the sacrifices and stress with which veterans and their families cope. Serving veterans and their loved ones in this capacity is a gift to me.” Double Duty Volunteering In addition to her leadership on the Advisory Committee, Bender still greets visitors at the reception desk. After the passing of her spouse and best friend Wayne, volunteering at the national cemetery restored a purpose to her life. Family in New York encouraged her to return there permanently, but the retired paralegal says, “I am so grateful that Wayne chose Sarasota National Cemetery as his final resting place. It opened a door for me at a time when I was questioning my own identity. The loss of a spouse can change the dynamics of every other relationship." |
Bender has been active in community and professional organizations for a lifetime. She is also on the board of directors of her homeowners association.
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Donations put to good use.Our volunteers fund raise to secure resources that promote civic engagement. We place special focus on youth. We're working to deliver financial support for activities that augment history courses and civics studies so that students have information to shape the future.
Donated funds also build bridges to exceptionally uplifting experiences at this national cemetery. Ceremonies, community programs and other free public events are hosted at Patriot Plaza, an amphitheatre on the cemetery grounds. Among the enhancements made possible through donations, audio equipment was purchased. Consequently, voices from the stage are clearly heard no matter which of the 1,800 seats a visitor selects. Adding to the aura of dignity expected at a national shrine, donations support beautification of the stately grounds. We are educating citizens about the roles America's armed forces members play at home and worldwide. We trust that as local residents learn more about the service and sacrifice of men and women who've served, increased resources for veterans and their families will result. Please Donate. |
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