Veterans Events Digital Program

Welcome to Veterans Memorial Park & Rear Admiral LeRoy Collins, Jr. Veterans Museum

Sunday, May 24, 2026
29th Annual Memorial Day Observance

Featuring: The Garden of Gold

Program

Maj. Gen. John Gronski, United States Army (Retired)

Maj. Gen. John Gronski, United States Army (Retired), is the founder and CEO of Leader Grove, LLC, a leadership consulting firm. He has authored three books and is a leadership trainer, international speaker, and executive coach. A Leadership Fellow with the Association of the United States Army, he also serves on the board of the Army Heritage Center Foundation.Maj. Gen. Gronski served for more than 40 years in the U.S. Army and Pennsylvania National Guard at the tactical, operational, and strategic levels. Key assignments included: U.S. Army Europe Deputy Commanding General for the National Guard; Commanding General of the 28th Infantry Division, where he led 15,000 men and women; and Brigade Commander of 2nd Brigade 28th Infantry Division, consisting of over 5,000 Soldiers and Marines, conducting combat operations in Ramadi, Iraq. He holds a Master of Business Administration from Penn State Great Valley, a master’s in strategic studies from the United States Army War College, and attended a doctoral program in organizational leadership at Alvernia University. He is a practitioner of Lean Six Sigma process improvement.

His military awards include the Army Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star, Iraq Campaign Medal, and recognitions from

Chief Master Sgt. Christopher S. Ottenwess 6th Air Refueling Wing, MacDill Air Force Base 

Chief Master Sgt. Christopher S. Ottenwess is the Command Chief Master Sergeant for the 6th Air Refueling Wing, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. He is responsible for the security and well-being of the Base’s 16,900 employees and their families, along with $2.8 billion in base property and capital assets. The Wing’s overall mission is to provide worldwide combat air refueling and installation support to Headquarters U.S. Central Command, Headquarters U.S. Special Operations Command and 31 other Joint mission partners that call MacDill home.Chief Master Sgt. Ottenwess grew up in Michigan and joined the Air Force in 1997. He has served at the tactical, operational, and strategic level as an Instructor, Evaluator, Inspector, Interim First Sergeant, and Superintendent. He has deployed in support of Operations DESERT FOX, ALLIED FORCE, SOUTHERN WATCH, ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, and INHERENT RESOLVE. His education includes a Bachelor of Science from Southern Illinois University and a Master of Arts from the University of Massachusetts.

Chief Master Sgt. Ottenwess is an enlisted Aircrew Member with over 5,600 hours in the KC-10A, KC-135R, H/MC-130J, and HH-60W aircraft. His military decorations include the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters, and Aerial Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster.

Hillsborough County Proudly Honors these American Gold Star Heroes in Veterans Memorial Park’s Garden of Gold

Thank you

Thank you for taking time to observe the true meaning of Memorial Day. Please enjoy the Garden of Gold and the monuments at Veterans Memorial Park. Join us at the pavilion shelter for refreshments and fellowship following today’s ceremony. The Veterans Council of Hillsborough County, Inc. meets on the last Monday of the month at 6 p.m. inside the Veteran Resource Center – all are welcome. For more information, call (813) 635-8316.

Special thanks to

• American Legion Alafia Post 148
• Pepin Distributors
• County staff and volunteers for continued dedication to our Veterans