Holmes Beach church, other organizations to honor military veterans through third annual community barbecue

HOLMES BEACH -- CrossPointe Fellowship Church will honor U.S. military veterans three days after Veterans Day.

The third annual Community BBQ Honoring Veterans begins at 10:30 a.m. Nov. 14 on church grounds at 8605 Gulf Dr,, Holmes Beach. The event, which will end at 1:30 p.m., is a collaboration between the church, officials from all three cities on Anna Maria Island, the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce, and the Anna Maria Island Community Center. The day will include a procession toward an outdoor stage, speakers and music.

Ed Moss, a pastor at CrossPointe Fellowship Church, said the community event has two primary goals.

"The first goal is to honor veterans in two ways -- from the time they arrive to the time they leave, they will be thanked in various ways," the 57-year-old said. "The second way they'll be honored is through understanding by the community and, what we mean by that is from the platform and through testimonies, stories from various individuals, teach about what vets have faced, are facing, and will face -- both in battle but also in recovery."

The barbecue will include the inspiring story of U.S. Army staff Sgt. Alex Dillman, from Tampa. He was on a night mission in Afghanistan in 2011 when an explosion left him paralyzed.

Moss said he hopes the event will bring awareness to the "invisible wounds" many veterans have.

"Veterans typically don't want to talk about it and civilians typically don't get it. They can't understand, so we're trying to bridge the two by having some veterans and their loved ones speak about it in their own stories so that there's understanding," the pastor said. "We're trying to bring understanding because we believe understanding produces respect and honor. We need to get it. We need to try to understand what our veterans are living."

Bob Rosas, a 93-year-old U.S. Navy veteran, will also attend. Rosas, a member of CrossPointe Fellowship Church, has attended the last two.

"This is really an islandwide affair that's sponsored and supported by people from all three cities and, really, all the churches have a part in it," the longtime Holmes Beach resident said.

After enrolling in a Naval Reserve training course in fall 1940 at the University of Minnesota, Rosas served in World War II. He said he feels it's significant to recognize all who have served in the country's wars.

"As far as World War II, there's fewer and fewer of the veterans left," Rosas said. "We lose some every year."

Amaris Castillo, law enforcement/island reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7051. Follow her on Twitter@AmarisCastillo.

This story was originally published November 6, 2015 at 2:10 PM with the headline "Holmes Beach church, other organizations to honor military veterans through third annual community barbecue ."