The celebration came a bit late, but the City of St. Petersburg would not let this year go by without celebrating those who fought for our country.

“With the pandemic, this event doesn’t quite look like past years…” St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman said Wednesday to the crowd who braved the chilly morning to say, “thank you for your service.”

Between the pandemic and Hurricane Eta sweeping through the Gulf Coast on November 11, Veterans Day, the odds were stacked against the city when it came to holding the 7th Annual Veterans Day Celebration.

But, as Mayor Kriseman put it, celebrating our veterans is not optional.

“Our veterans still served honorably and represented us and really fought for us to keep having the ability to have our rights,” said Kriseman.

Two local vets were honored in particular - the late Dr. Bill Heller, and U.S. Navy veteran Jim Nixon.

“I think every individual loves the country and the opportunities we have, and one of those rights is to serve for our military,” said Nixon.

It was a right that he was denied.

He was discharged after nine months and 10 days for being a gay man.

This is one of the first times he is recognized for his duties.

“It’s something I would never have dreamed to happen. LGBTQ individuals who served in the military typically don’t receive any type of recognition for their service, even after long terms of serving,” said Nixon.

He says this award is not just for him, but for the 114,000 service members like him who were discharged for being a member of the LGBTQ community.

Nixon now works alongside Mayor Kriseman for the city, serving as an LGBTQ liaison.

“The freedoms that we enjoy in the country we have because of our veterans  and their willingness to sacrifice themselves, their families, everything, for our freedom,” said Kriseman.

Mayor Kriseman says, even though it came a bit late this year, every day is a great day to celebrate our nations heroes.