MANDARIN, Fla. – It was an awe inspiring and visual thank you to the men, women and families that have paid the ultimate price for our freedoms. In honor of Veterans Day, the Fallen Floridians Tribute was on display along Old St. Augustine Road in Mandarin.
The memorial bears the name and pictures of 400 Florida service men and women who have died in the line of duty.
John Guttry and his mother, Gena, combed though the white wall of honor with one name in mind -- Marine Lance Cpl. Jonathan Taylor.
"Him and my husband clicked because my husband was in the Marine Corps and he would say, 'Mr. John, I'm going to be a Marine! I'm going to make you proud. And that's exactly what he did,'" said Gena Guttry.
Their 22-year-old family friend was killed in a roadside bomb in Afghanistan nearly seven years ago. For John Guttry, a freshman in high school, it is a sacrifice that means so much more, with this Fallen Floridians Memorial tribute on display near his home.
The Guttrys are just two of dozens that visited the site that honored the hundreds of Florida men and women who have died in war. There was even a K-9 cross to pay respect to the four-legged friends who have lost their lives in harms way.
Kathy Signorile, of St. Michael's Soldiers, said that there has been a lot of positive feedback.
"They're saying thank you. And the crazy thing is we need to thank them, because many of them are mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters who have lost," said Signorile.
While the loss still feels fresh for the families of those who served, the Guttrys know the service of Taylor will never be forgotten.
If you would like to visit the Fallen Floridians Memorial, it will be on Old St. Augustine Road through Friday. It can be found across from St. Joseph's Catholic Church.