Military Archive

U.S. Navy Capt. Paul Flores, commanding officer at Naval Air Station Whiting Field, was the keynote speaker at Monday’s Memorial Day service at Veterans Memorial Plaza in Milton. He said there are two ways to best honor the men and women of our military services who died in the service of our freedom: Teach others about their sacrifices, and ensure their legacy endures.

Northwest Florida is home to quite a few veterans. In many places, veterans can enjoy designated parking spots but at Santa Rosa County-owned facilities, the only veterans parking spots were for Purple Heart recipients. Other veterans did not have designated parking. At least not until now.

A soldier from Milton was killed in a helicopter crash at Fort Campbell in Kentucky March 29. The crash killed nine other soldiers as well. Warrant Officer 1 Jeffrey Barnes, 33, of Milton, had been flying in a Black Hawk medical evacuation helicopter during a training exercise when his helicopter and another Black Hawk crashed around 10 p.m. During a news conference the following day, Brig. Gen. John Lubas said the helicopters were flying a multiship formation and using night vision goggles.

NAS Whiting Field will be the place for comedy next week when the Gary Sinise Foundation and NAS Whiting Field Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) present ‘The Almost Red, White, & Blue’ Comedy Tour to members of Whiting Field on Wed., Oct. 5.

The event is set to begin at 2 p.m. and doors will open at 1:30pm.. The tour will perform in Sikes Hall on the installation.

Milton’s team scored a 238.1 to earn its first win of the season. Trigger Time finished with a score of 207.9.

Students at Gulf Breeze Elementary school were visited by Santa Claus, who arrived by helicopter thanks to the HT-8 Eightballers, a helicopter training squadron assigned to Training Air Wing Five at Naval Air Station Whiting Field.

Here’s the text of Rep. Matt Gaetz’s letter, also signed by eight other House members:

Members of surrounding communities gathered alongside Milton residents Thursday to honor those who have served in the United States military.

Three Veterans Day events will take place in Santa Rosa County on Thurs., Nov. 11.

Pace native serves as a member of U.S. Navy’s 'Silent Service'