Miami Beach Projects 4 Days of Veteran Messages on Skybridge Orb

The City of Miami Beach will project electronic letters and videos of gratitude on the Betsy Orb every evening from Nov. 7 through Nov. 10. This four-day display marks the start of a Veterans Day campaign designed to honor military service members. The initiative is a partnership between the city, VFW Post 3559, and the Badger digital platform.

The event opens on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 5:30 p.m. with a sunset bugler performing 'Retreat' outside the Betsy Hotel at 1440 Ocean Drive. The live call will broadcast simultaneously to speakers on Lincoln Road, Pennsylvania Avenue, and 73 Street. A recording of the bugle call will play at 5:30 p.m. on the following three evenings at all three locations.

Projections on the Betsy Orb, a spherical skybridge connecting the Betsy to the former Carlton Hotel, will run from 6:40 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Nov. 7. For the remaining three nights, the display will operate from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Mayor Steven Meiner stated that the project serves as a reminder that freedom requires sacrifice. He noted that the celebration coincides with the 250th anniversary of American independence.

Residents and visitors can submit messages via the website miamibeachfl.gov/america250 between Nov. 2 and Nov. 10. The platform allows for handwritten notes or short video clips. Alex Kruger-Dobrota, a Miami Beach Marine veteran who developed the Badger platform, said the tool aims to connect people through shared experiences. He noted that the VFW Department of Florida is hosting a live feed for its 54,000 combat veteran members across the state.

On Nov. 7, U.S. Air Force Col. Wesley Hales of U.S. Southern Command will present new medals to USAF Sgt. James E. Anderson. Anderson, a Vietnam War veteran, lost his original medals during his return trip from Da Nang to Philadelphia approximately 50 years ago. The ceremony will take place inside the Betsy Hotel. Anderson received a 100% disability rating in July following support from the Bruce W. Carter VA Medical Center and VFW Post 3559.

Two screenings of the documentary 'Nothing Can Be Done, But Something Can Be Said' will also occur on Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. The film was created with The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus. It uses poetry and World War II letters to explore wartime sacrifice. The title references a poem by Hyam Plutzik, a World War II veteran and three-time Pulitzer Prize finalist.

The city will hold its 18th annual Veterans Day parade on Nov. 11 at 11:11 a.m. The procession will travel along Ocean Drive from 5th to 15th Streets. Participants will include veteran groups, marching bands, and local organizations.