Lee County Honors 250 Local Veterans Ahead of America's 250th Birthday

Community event pays tribute to veterans from all eras with personal handshakes and heartfelt gratitude.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 4:27pm

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An abstract, out-of-focus photograph in warm tones depicting a crowd of people shaking hands and embracing, conveying a sense of community and connection in a meaningful celebration.A community comes together to personally honor its local veterans, creating a heartfelt tribute ahead of America's 250th birthday.Lee Today

Lee County, Florida, held a special ceremony to honor 250 local veterans, marking the upcoming 250th anniversary of America's founding. The driving force behind the event, U.S. Army Col. Steve Epkins, had a simple goal: to recognize the service and sacrifice of veterans in the community. Lt. Governor Jay Collins and Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson personally shook the hand of each veteran and offered warm words of appreciation, making the tribute feel deeply personal. The ceremony included veterans from every era, including World War II veteran Ruth Bryan Blake, who humbly downplayed her service, saying "It was wartime... I had to do it." The event also recognized the sacrifices of military families, with many expressing that the community's support keeps their service members going.

Why it matters

This community-driven event to honor local veterans ahead of America's 250th birthday highlights the importance of recognizing the service and sacrifice of those who have defended the nation. By personalizing the tribute through individual handshakes and heartfelt gratitude, the ceremony reinforced the deep connection between a community and its veterans.

The details

The ceremony in Lee County, Florida, brought together 250 local veterans from all walks of life and eras of service. U.S. Army Col. Steve Epkins, the driving force behind the event, wanted each community across America to honor 250 veterans in the lead-up to the nation's 250th birthday. At the Lee County event, Lt. Governor Jay Collins and Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson personally shook the hand of each veteran and offered warm words of appreciation, making the tribute feel deeply personal. The ceremony included veterans from every era, including World War II veteran Ruth Bryan Blake, who humbly downplayed her service, saying "It was wartime... I had to do it." The event also recognized the sacrifices of military families, with many expressing that the community's support keeps their service members going.

  • The ceremony took place on March 31, 2026.
  • America's 250th birthday is coming up.

The players

Col. Steve Epkins

A U.S. Army officer who organized the event to honor 250 local veterans in Lee County, Florida, as part of his mission to have every community recognize 250 veterans ahead of America's 250th birthday.

Lt. Gov. Jay Collins

The lieutenant governor of Florida who attended the event and personally shook the hand of each of the 250 veterans honored.

Mayor Kevin Anderson

The mayor of Fort Myers, Florida, who attended the event and personally shook the hand of each of the 250 veterans honored.

Ruth Bryan Blake

A World War II veteran who was among the 250 veterans honored at the event, and who humbly downplayed her service, saying "It was wartime... I had to do it."

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What they’re saying

“Every community should honor 250. That's my mission.”

— Col. Steve Epkins, U.S. Army Officer

“It was wartime... I had to do it.”

— Ruth Bryan Blake, World War II Veteran

What’s next

The Lee County event was part of a larger effort to have communities across America honor 250 veterans ahead of the nation's 250th birthday. The organizers hope that this model will be replicated in other communities to recognize the service and sacrifice of veterans nationwide.

The takeaway

This community-driven event to honor local veterans ahead of America's 250th birthday demonstrates the power of personal recognition and gratitude. By shaking the hand of each veteran and offering heartfelt words of appreciation, the ceremony reinforced the deep connection between a community and those who have defended the nation, setting an example for other communities to follow.