Flagler County Memorial Day Ceremony to Feature Retired Major General With 40 Years of Military Service

Flagler County will hold its annual Memorial Day Ceremony at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 25, 2026, in front of the Government Services Building at 1769 E. Moody Boulevard in Bunnell. This year’s featured speaker is retired Major General Wilfred Hessert, whose military career spanned four decades across the United States Army and the Maine Air National Guard.

About the guest speaker

Hessert began his military career in 1960 when he enlisted in the United States Army, where he served for the first three years of what would become a 40-year career. In 1965, he enlisted in the Maine Air National Guard and received his first direct commission. His career there advanced steadily. He assumed command of the 101st Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron in 1979 and later served successively as deputy commander for maintenance, deputy commander for operations, vice wing commander, and wing commander for the 101st Air Refueling Wing. His final assignment was as military executive to the Reserve Forces Policy Board and military advisor to the board’s chairman within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness in Washington, D.C.

Over the course of his career, Hessert earned nearly 20 major awards and decorations. Among them are the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Combat Readiness Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Southwest Asia Service Medal, and the Kuwait Liberation Medal, along with numerous other service and unit awards spanning his time in both the Army and Air National Guard.

“Flagler County has a very strong community of veterans. It is a privilege and an honor to have a distinguished veteran like Major General Wilfred Hessert help us pay tribute to those who lost their lives in service to our country.”

— David Lydon, Veterans Service Officer, Flagler County

What to expect at the ceremony

The ceremony will open with local Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts leading attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the National Anthem. Vince Cautero will lead the crowd in singing “God Bless the USA,” and all attendees will join in a performance of “God Bless America.” Major General Hessert will then deliver the keynote address.

The event is sponsored by the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners and the Flagler County Veterans Advisory Council. A broad coalition of local veterans organizations and community groups will participate, including American Legion Post 115, the Boy Scouts of America, Disabled American Veterans Chapter 86, Flagler County FireFlight, the Flagler County Veterans Service Office, the Girl Scouts of America, the Knights of Columbus, Marine Corps League 876, JROTC programs from both Matanzas and Flagler-Palm Coast High Schools, the Military Officers Association of America’s Flagler Chapter, Palm Coast, and Veterans of Foreign War Post 8696.