Cocoa Beach Area Honors Veterans

Veteran's Day, a day to honor the countless men and women that have served our great nation so that we can be free. Without their selfless sacrifice, I would not be free to write this very blog you are reading. Like so many others, Veteran's Day is personal to me as my father, aunt and grandfather have served our country in various capacities.

Here in the Cocoa Beach area, we enjoy the benefits of having several military entities present. Cape Canaveral Air Force Station is filled with historic landmarks and the Space Coast enjoys unmanned launches from CCAFS regularly.

Patrick Air Force Base, an Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) base, is home to the 45th Space Wing. In addition to its "host wing" responsibilities at Patrick AFB, the 45 SW controls and operates Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS) and the Eastern Range.

The Space Coast is also home to the Naval Ordinance Test Unit (NOTU). NOTU was created in 1950 as a component of the U.S. Joint Long Range Proving Ground, Cape Canaveral. In 1956, the command was reorganized under a Commanding Officer and designated as Naval Ordnance Test Unit. By 1963, NOTU was directing almost all of its effort toward support of Fleet Ballistic Missile development, resulting in NOTU being assigned to the Director, Special Projects (now Strategic Systems Programs) with a mission to support the development of the Polaris Missile. 

Special Events and Information for Veterans in the Cocoa Beach area include:

• Veterans are offered free admission to Exploration Tower in Port Canaveral this weekend through Tuesday, November 11.
• Veteran’s Day weekend Open House at the Valiant Air Command, November 8-9. Admission is FREE for all military, Active or Retired; with ID.  The VAC will also allow Free admission to
  ANY Florida resident with ID.
• The Brevard Zoo will offer free admission to veterans this Tuesday, November 11.
• "A Salute to our Veterans Parade" will take place this Saturday, November 8 in downtown Titusville. Admission is free!

Whether you're a family member of a veteran or a civilian with seemingly no ties, everyone is effected by the United States military.

Be sure to say thank you to all of those that have served in the past or serve currently.