- May 21, 2026
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Mayor Rusty Johnson spoke with Dr. Jim Moyer, a Marine Corps veteran and Orange County Soil and Water Conservation District 2 supervisor.
Ocoee City Commissioners George Oliver III, Richard Firstner, Mayor Rusty Johnson and Commissioner Rosemary Wilsen honored veterans at Ocoee's annual Memorial Day Ceremony.
Mayor Rusty Johnson welcomed dozens of people to Ocoee's annual Memorial Day Ceremony.
Sgt. Joe Kara served in the Marine Corps from 1967 to 1971. He was in Vietnam from 1969 to 1970.
Susan Curtis shared how she served in the Navy from 1974 to 1989 as a lieutenant commander.
Before giving the invocation, Ocoee City Commissioner George Oliver III shared the story behind the national anthem.
Ocoee High School's Peyton Powell sang the national anthem.
Ocoee City Commissioner Rosemary Wilsen introduced the keynote speaker, retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Elizabeth Bledsoe.
Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Elizabeth Bledsoe served as the keynote speaker. "Veterans helped build Ocoee. Veterans helped protect Ocoee. Veterans helped lead Ocoee," she said. "Veterans are the foundation of Ocoee."
Members of the Ocoee Police Department Honor Guard raised the flag to half-staff.
Officer Patera Scott-Marsh stood at attention before veterans, residents and Ocoee city officials took a moment to honor those who died while serving.
Ocoee High School's Jordan-Ross Jackson played taps.
Ocoee Police Officer Patera Scott-Marsh saluted as taps was played in honor of those who died while serving in the military.
Mayor Rusty Johnson and Ocoee City Commissioners Rosemary Wilsen and George Oliver III stood tall as taps played and the American flag was raised to half-staff.
Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Elizabeth Bledsoe was somber as taps was played.
Ocoee City Commissioners George Oliver III, Rosemary Wilsen, Mayor Rusty Johnson and Commissioner Richard Firstner read the names of Ocoee residents who have given their lives for freedom.
Judge Mark Miller, an Army veteran, took a few minutes to speak with Mayor Rusty Johnson, who also is an Army veteran.
The flag blew gently in the breeze at half-staff.
Ocoee City Commissioners George Oliver III, Rosemary Wilsen, Mayor Rusty Johnson and Commissioner Richard Firstner were grateful retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Elizabeth Bledsoe, center, could serve as the keynote speaker.
The Ocoee Police Department Honor Guard presented the colors.
Dozens of Ocoee officials, residents, veterans and others gathered by the Ocoee Memorial Wall as Ocoee High School's Jordan-Ross Jackson played taps.
Two members of the Ocoee Police Department Honor Guard raised the American flag to half-staff while another member of the guard saluted next to a wreath adjacent to the Ocoee Memorial Wall.
It was a dignified moment during Ocoee's Memorial Day Ceremony Thursday, May 21, that was followed by Ocoee City Commissioners George Oliver III, Richard Firstner and Rosemary Wilsen and Mayor Rusty Johnson read the names of the 14 Ocoee residents who died while serving in the military.
Before heading outside to the Memorial Wall, attendees listened to a keynote speech from retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Elizabeth Bledsoe.
The Ocoee Police Department Honor Guard also presented the colors, Oliver gave the invocation, Firstner lead the Pledge of Allegiance and Ocoee High's Peyton Powell sang the national anthem.
