Palm Coast Honors the Fallen at 2025 Memorial Day Ceremony

The City of Palm Coast extends its heartfelt thanks to everyone who attended the 2025 Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 26, at Heroes Memorial Park. Each year, this deeply moving tradition brings our community together in a shared act of remembrance, honoring the service members who made the ultimate sacrifice and the families who carry their legacy forward.

Vice Mayor Theresa Pontieri served as Master of Ceremonies, guiding the crowd through a morning steeped in reverence and reflection. The ceremony began with the Presentation of Colors by the Matanzas High School Junior ROTC and the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Vice Mayor Pontieri, setting a tone of unity and gratitude.

Palm Coast resident Melissa Trumble, of Sweet Melissa Music, opened the ceremony with a stirring rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner. Following her performance, Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Chaplain Mark Chavez offered an invocation that invited attendees into a moment of spiritual reflection.

Congressman Randy Fine then took the podium, reminding the crowd that Memorial Day is not simply the start of summer—but a solemn occasion to reflect on the lives lost in service to our nation and the enduring sacrifice of the families left behind. His words were echoed by Vice Mayor Pontieri, who recounted the history of Memorial Day and called on the community to remember its true meaning: to honor the fallen and acknowledge the cost of our freedoms.

Council Members Ty Miller, David Sullivan, and Charles Gambaro Jr. took part in a deeply personal tribute, reading aloud the names of local fallen service members submitted by their families.

As a symbol of unity across our community, Palm Coast Fire Chief Kyle Berryhill, Flagler County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Joe Barile, Council Members Ty Miller, Charles Gambaro, and David Sullivan, Joseph Pepin of the American Legion, and Tamila and Mackenzie Treber Family—a Gold Star Family—laid a wreath at the base of the five memorial displays. Their gesture served as a poignant reminder of the strength and sacrifice that binds our military, public safety officials, and Gold Star families.

Palm Coast Fire Lieutenant Patrick Juliano performed a heartfelt performance of “Amazing Grace,” and then the Marine Corps League Detachment #876 performed the 21-Gun Salute.

Bryan Ray of the Palm Coast Community Band brought the ceremony to a gentle close with the echoing notes of “Taps.”

To conclude, attendees participated in the second annual Honor Walk—a silent procession through Heroes Memorial Park—where families and residents laid flowers at the memorials in a final, personal act of remembrance.

The City of Palm Coast is deeply grateful to all who helped make the 2025 Memorial Day Ceremony a powerful and meaningful tribute. From our veterans and Gold Star Families to every resident who stood in solidarity, your presence honored the fallen, uplifted the living, and reaffirmed the enduring value of service and sacrifice.