Cape St. George Lighthouse Annual Veterans Day Ceremony

The St. George Lighthouse Association, in partnership with SGI Veterans Reveille Group and the 106th American Legion in Apalachicola, invite everyone to attend the Veterans Day Ceremony in Lighthouse Park on Saturday, November 11, 2023, at 11 AM. This year’s ceremony will feature special guest, Colonel Christopher R. Anderson, United States Air Force (USAF), Retired, as our keynote speaker and our own Franklin County High School Cadet Core will be providing color guard services.

Guest Speaker, Colonel (Retired) Christopher R. Anderson, received his commission through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at the University of Georgia in 1992. Early in his career Colonel Anderson served oversees supporting flying operations and counter drug operations in both Central and South America. During his service, Colonel Anderson deployed five times to combat zones in support of Overseas Contingency Operations including Operations SOUTHERN WATCH, ENDURING FREEDOM, and IRAQI FREEDOM serving in Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Iraq, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Qatar.

Colonel Anderson is highly regarded for his expertise in Operational Intelligence. Prior to his recent retirement on April 1, 2023, Colonel Anderson was the top reservist to the Deputy Director of Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR), Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command at Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robins, Georgia where he provided guidance, direction, and oversight to 3,200 Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) Reservists. He assisted with the planning and execution of operational intelligence support to 4th, 10th, and 22nd Air Forces and, additionally, oversaw the men and women of the A2 (Intelligence) Directorate in the standing-up of AFRC critical capabilities including 16 new squadrons meeting priority service and joint mission requirements.

Preceding this assignment, Colonel Anderson was the highest-ranking reservist to the Director of Intelligence, 12th Air Force, Davis Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. Colonel Anderson also served as the reservist to the Director of Intelligence and Operations at 25th Air Force and as acting Director of Intelligence overseeing the operations of 16,000 airmen providing multi-source intelligence products for global intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations. Now, in the private sector, Ret. Colonel Anderson and his wife, Phan, reside on St. George Island and Colonel Anderson now works at the Franklin County School as the Cadet Core Instructor.

We encourage you to attend this very meaningful ceremony to honor all our veterans. Seating is limited, so please bring your own chairs. At the conclusion of the ceremony, Collins Vacation Rentals will be sponsoring lunch, dessert and drinks for all in attendance, provided by Gormley’s Gourmet Catering Company. Additionally, the lighthouse will be open to everyone, with free climbs offered to all veterans.