Category: Military

Florida Medal Of Honor Memorial

Post author By Chris M. Day
Post date March 27, 2025

Welcome back to #TravelThursday. This week I’m writing about my first-time visit a little over 3 weeks ago to our newest museum right here in my hometown of Sebring Florida. It’s the Florida Medal Of Honor Memorial.

Their Mission is “to honor and preserve the legacy of Florida Medal of Honor recipients through education, leadership, and inspiring displays, ensuring their courage and sacrifice are never forgotten.”

24 Medal of Honor recipients are Floridians – including our very own Major Thomas “Mickey” McGuire Jr. (1920-1945; Sebring High School Class of 1938). Check out his displays inside the Visitors Center.

What a wonderful Memorial (outside) and a beautiful Visitors Center (inside). It’s a fantastic addition to downtown Sebring, and as a Director of a neighboring historical museum – I welcome them to the family. I went home that night, and the next day I wrote them a check to cover a 5-year membership for myself. I want to be part of their growth and evolution. I want to support them in any way that I can.

Fun Fact: Surrounding the museum and the memorial are mostly (90%) native Florida plants – over 650 of them – including over 40 species. The plants were selected based on their colors, textures, and interactions with wildlife – attracting and supporting local butterflies, birds, and beneficial insects.

They are located at the corner of South Commerce and South Eucalyptus in downtown Sebring – 0.4 miles from our Circle – right next to the Highlands County Government Center. They are open 5 days a week – Tuesdays to Saturdays – from 10 AM to 4 PM. In addition to their official web site (hyperlinked above) – you can check them out on both Facebook and X.

Mama Told Me Not To Come, but The Show Must Go On, so we’ll Shambala An Old Fashioned Love Song Out In The Country – at least this One time, so that there is Joy To The World for the Black And White – next – #TravelThursday. Let’s keep traveling together.

Tags Florida, Memorial, Military, Museum, Sebring

Blogging Career Driving Food Football Geography Holidays Home Military Movies Shopping Sports Television Travel Weather

Florida Homecoming

Post author By Chris M. Day
Post date December 12, 2024

Welcome back to #TravelThursday. Last week I wrote about my trip to North Texas – where I spent 9 days and 9 nights with my family in Wylie – about 30 miles northeast of the center of Dallas Texas. I arrived during the early evening of Wednesday November 20TH 2024. I wrote about me and my brother’s visit on that Saturday to historic downtown McKinney Texas and the Collin County History Museum.

During the rest of my time with my brother we shopped, we ate, and we saw 3 movies – “Heretic”, “A Real Pain”, and “Red One”. I think that me and brother both liked “A Real Pain” the most. It’s a dramedy written, directed, and produced by Jesse Eisenberg. He and Kieran Culkin are the stars. It’s a good well-written story of two cousins visiting Poland on a tour to connect with their Jewish heritage.

As is tradition – my brother prepared a home-cooked Breakfast twice – on that Sunday morning and on Thanksgiving morning. We also opened all of the presents underneath the Christmas tree later on that same holiday morning, and then we watched football for the rest of the day while smelling (and eating) our traditional Thanksgiving dinner at around 3:30 PM.

Fun Fact: The weather in North Texas was all over the place – to include the 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, and even 80s. As an amateur weather forecaster – it was not unexpected. Thanksgiving Day was the coldest day (40s), and the next morning was the coldest morning (33°F / 1°C). I brought that cold air (modified) back home to Florida.

The next day – Friday November 29TH 2024 – my brother dropped me off at Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), and I flew to Charlotte Douglas (CLT) with a short layover before my connecting flight to Sarasota-Bradenton (SRQ). (My nonstop direct flight back to SRQ was cancelled about 3 months prior just for that afternoon, and I was automatically booked on the two replacement flights.) Both flights were packed, but they actually departed and arrived early !

Fun Fact: It was my first time in North Carolina since the last time I flew through CLT as a layover between Miami (MIA) and Salisbury-Ocean City (SBY). CLT was also a layover for the return flight between Reagan (DCA) and MIA. That was in July 2015.

I returned back home to Sebring (76 miles from SRQ) right at 9 PM on that Friday, and I was in my own bed less than an hour later. It was a long travel day, and I was exhausted.

The next day – Saturday November 30TH 2024 – I awoke knowing that it was on that date 37 years earlier that I left my family behind in Northern Virginia and flew to MIA en route to my new USAF duty assignment and home for the next 36+ years – Homestead Florida. I’ve now entered my 38TH year as a Florida resident. I’m a #FloridaMan forever.

Next #TravelThursday – I’ll write about my road-trip to and from Homestead. It’s my 32ND trip southward – and my 33RD trip northward – since relocating from Homestead to Sebring almost 2 years ago. Let’s keep traveling together.

#CountUp & #TravelThursday is on Facebook. I usually post there on Mondays and Thursdays.

Tags Florida, North Carolina, Texas

Blogging Career Holidays Military

Honoring My Fellow Veterans

Post author By Chris M. Day
Post date November 11, 2024

It’s the 11TH day of the 11TH month – Veterans Day here in the U.S.A.

I was employed by the United States Air Force for almost 40 years – going back to when I first signed on the dotted line of the delayed enlistment program near the start of my senior year in high school in 1984. I was hesitant in joining the military way back then, but it all turned out just right, and it became my career – both military and civilian. I’m enjoying retirement now.

To my fellow Veterans – this is our day. From one Veteran to all of you – I thank you for serving your nation, so that we may be free indeed.

Veterans – Get the help that you need at VA.GOV.

Tags Military, Veterans

Blogging Driving Food Geography History Military Travel Weather

Pioneer Daze 2024

Post author By Chris M. Day
Post date October 17, 2024

Welcome back to #TravelThursday. As you may know – I’m an active member of the Sebring Historical Society. I’ve written about us many times on here. And here I go again.

This Saturday October 19TH 2024 it’s our big event in downtown Sebring Florida. It’s our biggest event of the year. It’s our 2ND Annual Pioneer Daze, and it should be a great fun day at the Alan Jay Arena (inside and outside) at the Highlands County Fairgrounds.

If you’re coming in off the Circle – then take South Commerce. Make a right on McClain, and then make a left on Magnolia. Free parking will be in the open field on your left.

If you’re coming in off Sebring Parkway – then turn onto South Commerce. Make the first left on McClain.

I’ll be outside in charge of the parking area. For those that need it – I believe that we will have a few golf carts with drivers to take you from your vehicle over to near the main entrance of our festival where you’ll find outside vendors, food trucks, and a large children’s area.

I hope to take a few opportunities to walk the event inside and check out all of our vendors and entertainment. That way – I’ll have something to write about – next – #TravelThursday. Let’s keep traveling together.

#CountUp & #TravelThursday is on Facebook. I also run the Sebring Historical Society Facebook page.