On a beautiful Friday morning, the City of Kissimmee, Kissimmee Utility Authority, and Toho Water Authority came together to remember, to reflect, and to honor some of their best during the annual Employee Memorial Service at Kissimmee City Hall.
The service, which was led by Kissimmee’s Justin Hetu, honored those employees that have passed, including line of duty deaths, and those that have retired over the last year. The service took place around the permanent employee monument near the front of Kissimmee’s City Hall that was initially displayed at City Hall in 1988, then moved to Kissimmee Lakefront Park in 1993, before making its return to City Hall in 2010.
During the ceremony, roses were placed at the base of the employee monument in memory of employees of the city, KUA, or Toho Water over the last year. Roses are also placed in honor of retirees who have passed over the last year.
‘Remember Me’ by Margaret Mead was read by Angela Perez from Toho Water Authority during the ceremony, and ‘Angel’ by Sarah McLachen, was sung by Gwen Henry, also from Toho Water Authority.
Ben Radford from Kissimmee Utility Authority closed the ceremony in prayer, which was followed by an honor guard recessional by the Kissimmee Fire Department Honor Guard and the Kissimmee Police Department Honor Guard.
The employee monument is an engraved piece of dark gray granite that was created when the City of Kissimmee lost its first police officer in the line of duty. The names of employees who pass while in service to the City continue to be added to this piece of granite. Although Kissimmee Utility Authority and Toho Water Authority are independent agencies, they continue to add their employees’ names to the shared monument as well.
Elected officials and staff for all three organizations, as well as friends, family, and members of the community attended the service.
