St. Petersburg will present the “2016 Honored Veteran” award to Michael Jernigan during the Third Annual Veterans Day celebration in Williams Park on Friday.
Jernigan, a St. Petersburg native, was severely wounded in while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Jernigan was featured in the HBO documentary “Alive Day Memories: Home from Iraq.” He was severely injured in 2004, resulting in the loss of both eyes, bone supporting his brain and injuries to his hand and leg.
Since his return and rehabilitation, Jernigan helped found the Paws for Patriots program at Southeastern Guide Dogs. The dogs serve many purposes for veterans — guide dogs, facility therapy dogs, service dogs, and emotional support dogs.
The St. Petersburg Veterans Day event begins at 8 a.m. It is free and open to the public.
City government facilities will be closed Friday. Those facilities include City Hall and the Municipal Services Center, community libraries, the Greenhouse, Enoch Davis Center, Sunshine Center, Dwight H. Jones Neighborhood Center, Jamestown Apartments and Townhomes Office, Coliseum, and Sunken Gardens’ business offices.
