As we honor fallen heroes this Memorial Day, a visit to Sumter County’s Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell and other Memorial Day services teaches us the amazing breadth of sacrifice men and women have made in service to the United States.
Below are some notable Central Florida veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice and two men who survived more than a century:
A recently fallen ‘outstanding’ soldier
Tavares resident, Mariyah Collington, a 19-year-old Army specialist, died early this month while conducting a training exercise over Morocco.
“Spc. Collington was an outstanding soldier whose unwavering enthusiasm and positive spirit uplifted every environment she entered,” said Capt. Spencer Grider, commander of Charlie Battery, 5-4 ADAR, praising her “infectious energy, whether in the office, in the field or among her peers.”
Grider said Collington fostered connection and camaraderie, bringing people together through her genuine warmth and heartfelt sense of humor.
“Her presence will be greatly missed across our formation.”
‘The youngest Navy SEAL,’ from Leesburg
One of the noteworthy veterans interred there has Lake County ties. Stephen “Scott” Helvenston, born in Ocala, was raised in Leesburg.
Helvenston’s military journey was nothing short of remarkable. After receiving special permission to join the Navy at just 16, he became the youngest person to ever complete U.S. Navy SEAL training at 17.
After a distinguished 12-year military career, he transitioned to civilian life as a world-class fitness promoter and Hollywood stuntman before returning to the Middle East as a private security contractor. He created workout videos and trained Demi Moore for G.I. Jane.
Tragically, Helvenston was one of four contractors killed in an infamous March 2004 ambush in Fallujah, Iraq.
A historic home belonging to his family, The Helvenston House, has been preserved and has been the location of special events and a coworking space.
Historic milestones
Altoona native Robert McTureous Jr. is the only Lake County resident to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions at Okinawa in WWII.
An annual Memorial Day ceremony is held at the park named in his honor, Robert McTureous, Jr. Memorial Park, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25. The event honors the “historic fallen heroes” of North Lake County, including early settlers who fought in the Civil War, organized by American Legion Post 21 in Umatilla. The event includes a symbolic Riderless Horse program, signifying the soldiers who didn’t return home from battle.
Among them is Navy Master Chief William R. Charette, a Korean War medic. In a profound piece of history, Charette was actually the exact individual chosen by the military in 1958 to select the remains of the World War II Unknown Soldier, who now rests at Arlington National Cemetery. There’s also Maj. David Moniac, the first Native American graduate of West Point, was killed during the Second Seminole War.
Though the 512-acre grounds of the Florida National Cemetery didn’t lay to rest its first veteran until 1988, the cemetery is the final resting place for heroes spanning multiple eras, including three Medal of Honor recipients.
A member of the Creek Nation, Moniac graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1822. He was commissioned as a captain and commanded a Creek volunteer cavalry unit 1836, but was fatally shot by Seminole warriors during the Battle of Wahoo Swamp along the Withlacoochee River.
WWII heroes surviving more than a century
KISS’s Gene Simmons saluted Leesburg veteran Hal Urban at the National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, D.C., in May 2025.
Urban turned 101 last year and has continued to volunteer at PEAR Park. His military heroism dates back to 1945, in Belgium, when Hal’s half-track came under heavy German mortar fire.
A piece of shrapnel tore through his leg, causing severe wounds. After spending five weeks in the hospital, he rejoined the 11th Armored in mid-February 1945, in time for his unit’s final drive into Germany, where he helped liberate prisoners of a concentration camp, including Simmons’ then 14-year-old mother.
A veteran of World War II, along with the Korean and Vietnam wars, Melvin “Mel” Jenner of Orlando recently celebrated his 103rd birthday in April 2026.
Jenner served mainly as a left waist gunner in a B-17 bomber aircraft and flew 46 missions in World War II, including six over Berlin and his final one at Normandy on June 6, 1944. He worked at Disney for over twenty years as a painter and tournament director for Disney’s bass fishing club.
“I was assigned to a crew as the left waist gunner on the B-17 called Lady Satan,” Jenner told the Florida Historical Society’s Oral History Project.
“My first mission in the B-17 was 11 hours and 15 minutes. And at that time, (on) that mission, we lost six airplanes out of our squadron, and when we landed that afternoon, I got out of the airplane and walked to the tail, and I looked up at the sky and said, ‘Oh, Lord, did I do the right thing by requesting a transfer?’ But as it happened, I think I did.”
In 2024, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis presented Jenner the Award of Merit in Umatilla.
A hero’s return, honored at Lone Oak Cemetery
On Jan. 21, 2024, 38 motorcycle officers from several counties, including the Patriot Guard Riders, a motorcycle club of 150 veterans, saluted Staff Sgt. Hall. A bagpiper played, and many tears were shed.
“It was a very moving ceremony,” said Frank Stivender, manager of the Leesburg History Museum and trustee at the landmark Loan Oak Cemetery in Leesburg. “The coordination between the city of Leesburg and Beyers Funeral Home created a fantastic event. Lone Oak Ceremony put their best foot forward.”
As reported by Frank Stanfield in his Dec. 1 story, the remains of the World War II airman — unaccounted for since 1944 — were identified in July by a DNA match provided by the long-lost soldier’s nephews. Beyers Funeral Home received his body on Dec. 15. Hall was just 21 years old when he died.
Born in Coleman, Hall grew up in the Emeralda Island area outside of Lisbon, northeast of Leesburg.
Hall was assigned to the 66th Bombardment Squadron, 44th Bombardment Group (Heavy) in January of 1944. On Jan. 21, Hall, a left waist gunner onboard the B-24D Liberator Queen Marlene, was killed when his plane was attacked by German air forces near Équennes-Éramecourt, France, according to a news release from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency.
More Memorial Day events
The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall: Witness a substantial, heart-rending piece of history by viewing the Memorial Traveling Wall through May 26 at the Clermont Highlander Building & Pavilion Complex, 330 Third St., Clermont. Details: travelingwall.us
Memorial Day Observance Program in Clermont: The weekend culminates in Clermont’s official ceremony on Monday, May 25, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Both the Wall and the ceremony are held at the Clermont Arts and Recreation Center, located at 3700 S. U.S. 27, Clermont. Details: 352-394-3500.
Memorial Day Tribute & Cookout at Harbor Hills: Harbor Hills Country Club, located at 6538 Harbor Hills Blvd., Lady Lake, begins its event with an 8 a.m. shotgun golf start, followed by a formal tribute ceremony at 12:15 p.m. and a community cookout at 12:45 p.m. For event registration, visit harborhills.com or call 352-753-7000.
Memorial Day in The Villages: The Veterans Memorial Park of The Villages Memorial Day Service on May 25 at 10 a.m. Located at 1000 Lake Shore Drive, Lady Lake, the popular community service includes a color guard, wreath-laying and a flag-raising ceremony. Call 352-205-0466 for program details.
Ceremony at Florida National Cemetery: Event begins at 11 a.m. on May 25, including wreath-laying, patriotic speeches and full military honors. 6502 SW 102nd Ave., Bushnell. Visit https://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/florida.asp or call 352-793-7740.
Pine Forest Cemetery Ceremony in Mount Dora: A presentation of colors by the Umatilla High School Army JROTC, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Mayor James Homich., and Commander Laurie Turner of VFW Post 8087 speaks, offering remarks in tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on May 25 at 1699 N. Donnelly St. There will also be flag placements on gravesites by local Boy Scouts and for veterans immediately after the service. Find more details on the City of Mount Dora calendar.
VFW Post 8087 Memorial Day: Attend a commemorative service and community lunch on May 25 at 1 p.m. This event offers a more intimate setting for veterans and residents to reflect together following the morning’s city-wide ceremony. The service is held at the VFW Post 8087 headquarters located at 4020 N. Hwy 19-A, Mount Dora. Details: 352-589-8087.
This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial: From WWII to today, honoring uncommon valor this Memorial Day
Reporting by Julie Garisto, Leesburg Daily Commercial / Daily Commercial
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
