More than 50 people gathered at the Civic Center Park on Sunday to honor local veterans at the third annual "Veterans Day in High Springs" celebration.
The High Springs Lions Club provided food and there were several booths put on display by the local farmers market. Bob Barnas, the High Springs vice mayor, coordinates the event each year. He paid for and planned the event because he thinks people forget the meaning of Veterans Day.
"Where it gets lost, I'm not sure," he said. "But we have to remember how many men are coming back today from Afghanistan and Iraq wounded."
Barnas, a Vietnam veteran, said he does not want soliders to be treated the way he was treated when he returned home.
"There were people that looked at me in disgust when I got off the plane in my uniform," he said. "When you walked by them, they didn't even say welcome home."
Scott DuPree served in the Marine Corps for 12 years and attended Sunday's event with his son. He said that he believes there is a lot of appreciation for veterans in Alachua County.
The turnout for Sunday's event was lower than expected, but organizers say it is because people attended various events throughout the area.
Mina Radman wrote this story for online.