OCALA, FL (352today.com) – A ceremony to honor and recognize a World War I veteran, whose story may have been lost if not for the quick actions of a few, was held Monday, April 6, 2026, at the Ocala Marion County Veterans Memorial Park.
The day itself holds special significance: On April 6, 1917, the United States entered World War I. It was a time when ordinary Americans answered an extraordinary call to serve, said Daisy Diaz, Marion County veterans’ services director.
“Pvt. Henry Thomas was one of those Americans,” said Diaz. “Today we come together not only to remember that moment in history, but to honor one of our own. For many years, his story was quiet and nearly forgotten, yet even in his silence that service remained. It stood as a reminder of the life that deserved recognition”…