Patriot Day flag ceremony
To commemorate Patriot Day on Thursday Sept. 11, Uptown Station in Fort Walton Beach is joining with the Fort Walton Beach Police and Fire Departments to hold a special Flag Raising Ceremony at Florida's tallest flagpole beginninga t 11:45 a.m.
The flagpole, which measures 170-feet, is situated in Central Park in the center of Uptown Station on Eglin Parkway. The Pole was erected in 2007 and dedicated to all members of the Military, Law Enforcement, Fire Departments, EMS and other First Responders by Uptown Station's owner and developer Jay Odom. Odom decided on Sept. 12, 2001 that he would erect a monument to all the Military and First responders.
The Fort Walton Beach Police and Fire Departments provide their Honor Guards for the Ceremony. The Honor Guards, in Full Dress uniform, perform a spectacular and moving ceremony during which they raise a giant 50' x 80' Stars and Stripes to the top of the pole. The Flag is then dropped to half-staff in honor of Patriot Day.
The Honor Guards will arrive at 11:45 a.m. for the Ceremony, which starts at 12 noon. The flag is walked in silence down the length of Central Park by the Honor Guard and is then hoisted. The Guard peels off and remains at the salute while the flag is first raised and then moved to half-staff.