St. Petersburg Honors Two Vietnam Veterans Nov. 11
Mayor Ken Welch will present the Honored Veteran Award to Hardy W. Bryan and Eddie Pringle at the city's 13th annual Veterans Day ceremony.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Civic
St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch will present the Honored Veteran Award to two Vietnam War veterans, Hardy W. Bryan and Eddie Pringle, during the city's 13th annual Veterans Day ceremony on Wednesday, November 11, 2026. The ceremony begins at 9 a.m. in the Terminal Hangar at Albert Whitted Airport and is open to the public.
Why it matters
The ceremony is part of the city's observance of the nation's 250th anniversary and recognizes military service in St. Petersburg. Holding the event at Albert Whitted Airport, a former training base for naval cadets during World War II, ties the honors to the city's aviation history.
The ceremony marks the 13th annual Honored Veteran Award presentation, with Bryan's 10 years of overseas Army service and Pringle's 1967 to 1968 Vietnam deployment among the honorees' documented records. The source does not state how many attendees are expected.
The players
Ken Welch
Ken Welch is the Mayor of St. Petersburg, Florida, who leads the city government that organizes the annual Veterans Day ceremony.
Hardy W. Bryan
Hardy W. Bryan is a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel and St. Petersburg native who served overseas in Germany, Italy and Vietnam.
Eddie Pringle
Eddie Pringle is a Marine Corps veteran who served in Vietnam and later led Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6827.
The details
Bryan, a St. Petersburg native, joined the Army through Florida State University's ROTC program, served in Germany, Italy and Vietnam, and retired as a lieutenant colonel in September 1983. Pringle graduated from Gibbs High School in 1965, enlisted in the Marine Corps, and later served as commander of VFW Post 6827. Parking is available along First Street SE between Fourth Avenue S and Eighth Avenue S.
Timeline
1965: Pringle graduates from Gibbs High School.
1967 to 1968: Pringle serves in Vietnam.
September 1983: Bryan retires from the Army.
Wednesday, November 11, 2026: Veterans Day ceremony begins at 9 a.m. at Albert Whitted Airport.
Civic Observance
The ceremony is held as part of St. Petersburg's observance of the nation's 250th anniversary in 2026, placing the local honors within a national commemoration year. Its recognition of Vietnam-era service ties the event to the long tradition of local Veterans Day programs.
The ceremony is free and open to the public at Albert Whitted Airport's Terminal Hangar, 107 Eighth Ave. SE, starting at 9 a.m. on November 11. Attendees can park along First Street SE between Fourth Avenue S and Eighth Avenue S.
The takeaway
Local Veterans Day ceremonies offer a direct way to recognize service members from earlier conflicts, and attending in person is open to any resident. The event's timing this year also marks a broader national anniversary.
Further reading
Explore more St. Petersburg civic news for context on local ceremonies and city observances.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government..
