Miami Beach Projecting Veteran Tributes on Betsy Orb for Four Days

The City of Miami Beach will project electronic messages and videos honoring veterans on the Betsy Orb, a spherical skybridge connecting the Betsy Hotel to the former Carlton Hotel. The four-day campaign runs from Nov. 7 to Nov. 10, leading up to Veterans Day. The event is a partnership between the city, VFW Post 3559, and the Badger platform, which facilitates the submission of gratitude messages.

Mayor Steven Meiner stated that the initiative marks the 250th anniversary of American independence. He noted that freedoms are secured through the courage and sacrifice of those who serve. Meiner described the effort as a reminder that freedom carries a debt of gratitude that cannot be fully repaid. The city expects many of the submitted messages to come from local schoolchildren and families, though anyone may participate.

The event opens on Nov. 7 at 5:30 p.m. with a live bugler playing "Retreat" outside the main entrance of The Betsy Hotel at 1440 Ocean Drive. The sound will broadcast simultaneously to locations on Lincoln Road and Pennsylvania Avenue, as well as 73 Street and Ocean Terrace in North Beach. A recorded version of the bugle call will play at the same time in all three areas on the following three evenings.

Projections on the Orb begin at 6:40 p.m. on Nov. 7 and continue until 11 p.m. On the subsequent evenings, the display will run from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. The city is also screening a short documentary titled "Nothing Can Be Done, But Something Can Be Said" inside The Betsy on Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. The film was created in partnership with The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus and features poetry and World War II letters.

The documentary title references a poem by Hyam Plutzik, a World War II veteran and three-time Pulitzer Prize finalist. His legacy informs the hotel's focus on arts and community. On Nov. 7, an invitation-only ceremony inside the hotel will see U.S. Air Force Col. Wesley Hales of U.S. Southern Command present new medals to USAF Sgt. James E. Anderson. Anderson, a Vietnam War veteran, lost his original medals during a trip from Da Nang to Philadelphia about 50 years ago.

Anderson received a 100% disability rating in July after suffering lung injuries during his service. The award resulted from efforts by the Bruce W. Carter Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center and VFW Post 3559. Retired Army Lt. Col Jackie Tam, commander of VFW Post 3559, described the medal presentation as an emotional conclusion to a long wait. She stated that the community is proud to support Anderson in receiving his deserved honors.

The Badger platform, which powers the letter-writing campaign, was developed by Alex Kruger-Dobrota, a Miami Beach Marine veteran. Kruger-Dobrota cited a personal experience receiving letters from a school during his tour in Afghanistan as the inspiration for the tool. He aims to expand the program into an annual national effort through the VFW Department of Florida, which serves 54,000 combat veteran members and will host the live feed for state posts.

The city will hold its 18th annual Veterans Day parade on Nov. 11 at 11:11 a.m. The route covers Ocean Drive from 5 to 15 streets. Participants include veteran and military groups, marching bands, and local businesses. The event is cited as the largest parade of the day in South Florida. The public can upload gratitude videos or images of handwritten letters to miamibeachfl.gov/america250 between Nov. 2 and Nov. 10.