ARCADIAN PHOTO BY SUSAN E. HOFFMAN, shoffman@sun-herald.com

Lt. Col Marlene Carter, US NAvy (ret.), pins on Bill Waits one of five medals he earned as a Prisoner of War during World War II. Joseph McKenney and Jim O'Leary of the DeSoto Veterans Honor Guard look on. The Nocatee resident had been held for seven months in a German POW camp. He was honored on Flag Day at a ceremony at the Turner Agri-Civic Center. Turn to pages 12 and 13 for more photos.

ARCADIAN PHOTO BY SUSAN E. HOFFMAN, shoffman@sun-herald.com

The DeSoto County High School Chorus, under the direction of Byron Jones, give a beautiful and stirring rendition of the Star Spangled Banner Thursday while Don Finkle, president of the DeSoto County Veterans Council, salutes. Agri-Civic Center.

ARCADIAN PHOTO BY SUSAN E. HOFFMAN, shoffman@sun-herald.com

Bill Waits' daughter Karen pins on one of his World War II medals, while his other daughter Billie Joe and Veterans Council member Jim O'Leary look on. After being a POW in a German camp, Waits never received the five medals he earned during WWII until they were presented to him during Thursday's Flag Day ceremony.

ARCADIAN PHOTO BY SUSAN E. HOFFMAN, shoffman@sun-herald.com

Col. Alfred Carter, US Army (ret.), the keynote speaker at Thursday's Flag Day ceremony, said August 7 has been declared Purple Heart Day. He also described some of the benefits, such as enterprize opportunity preferences, that Florida has extended to its veterans. Behind him is an enormous flag that DeSoto County Fire Rescue Chief Glenn Prescott secured to display from the county's ladder truck.

ARCADIAN PHOTO BY SUSAN E. HOFFMAN, shoffman@sun-herald.com

Joseph McKenney, left, and Ron York, both of the DeSoto Veterans Honor Guard, raise the U.S. and POW flags during the Flag Day ceremony at the Turner Agri-Civic Center Thursday.

ARCADIAN PHOTO BY SUSAN E. HOFFMAN, shoffman@sun-herald.com

Don Finkle honors Algie Didlaukies who has been instrumental in organizing the annual Flag Day ceremonies for several years.

ARCADIAN PHOTO BY SUSAN E. HOFFMAN, shoffman@sun-herald.com

Wearing all the World War II medals he earned but hadn't received until Thursday, Bill Waits, with cane, stands with his wife, Helen, and daughters Billie Joe and Karen during the Flag Day. Behind him are guest speakers Col Alfred Carter (US Army, ret.) and his wife, Lt. Col. Marlene Carter (US Nave, ret.). The annual Flag Day ceremony was held in front of the Turner Agri-Civic Center.

ARCADIAN PHOTO BY SUSAN E. HOFFMAN, shoffman@sun-herald.com

DeSoto County's Veterans Advocate Lee Gallagher, right, salutes former POW Bill Waits of Nocatee. Waits earned five medals during World War II which were never bestowed upon him until Gallagher made several phone calls. The medals Waits earned are the World War II Victory, Army Good Conduct, American Campaign, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign with three bronze stars, and Prisoner of War medals.