In his 24 years in the U.S. House of Representatives, one of the duties that held the most personal meaning to Michael Bilirakis was serving on the House Veterans Committee. As a Korean War veteran, he shares a bond with all who have served. Bilirakis, who left the House at the end of 2006, is now spearheading a project to ensure that the experiences of all local veterans are remembered in a way that will continue to serve their community. ...more

October 24, 2009

Firefighters from across Florida learned how to fight fires aboard large vessels by practicing Tuesday on the SS American Victory. ...more

October 21, 2009

For four days, he floated in the shark-infested waters of the Philippine Sea after the U.S. Navy cruiser he was on was sunk by a Japanese submarine. ...more

October 21, 2009

Oct. 8, 2009 ...more

October 8, 2009

In honor of his 85th birthday on Sept. 14, Dennis Rawls received a special gift from his wife, Martha. He took a flight at the controls of a Cessna 172 out of Peter O. Knight Airport, the same place he took his first solo flight when he was 15, all of 70 years ago. ...more

September 23, 2009

Gen. David Petraeus, commander of Tampa-based U.S. Central Command, will speak at the city's Sept. 11 commemoration and grand opening of Heroes Plaza in Cotanchobee/Fort Brooke Park. ...more

August 23, 2009

This is just a thought in reference to the media's priorities. ...more

August 21, 2009

Aug. 11, 2009 ...more

August 11, 2009

Edward White, who made America's first spacewalk and died in a spacecraft fire, is among the latest aviation and space pioneers inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame. ...more

July 19, 2009

I found Randy Ludacer's letter vilifying our Southern heritage particularly distasteful and full of the kind of politically correct hatred that today is poisoning our traditional values. Southern heritage is as much about love of our families and our God as it is about displaying the Stars and Bars as a reminder of that heritage. ...more

July 15, 2009