PINELLAS COUNTY VETERANS ASSOCIATION
The Pinellas County Veterans Association was created at the Palm Harbor Chamber of Commerce as an outreach to the veteran community by providing valuable resources & information to our local veterans. Since our inception on February 2024, we have grown exceptionally fast, became a fully certified 501(c)(3), not for profit charity that not only collaborates, advocates, & supports our veterans but, also give back to our communities and maintain the reverence & honor for the shoulders of the giants we stand on & those that have came before us & paid the ultimate sacrifices for us to enjoy the freedoms we have today.
From creating the largest event our community has ever had with Palm Harbor Hero Fest, to creating Walls of Honor within facilities throughout the county, to capturing & showcasing the stories of our local hometown heros in our publications, The Veteran Voices, and providing community support during the hurricanes, donating beds, and financially supporting numerous other non-profit organizations that directly support the missions, appearances on local media, radio, & news networks, the PCVA has become a pillar within the community and known as, “the Veterans that shaped our community” by Palm Harbor Neighbors magazine & selected as the People’s Choice for “Favorite Veterans non-profit organization” by local businesses.
Anywhere you see the PCVA logo stickers throughout the county are locations that are military friendly & provide military discounts to our veterans. The Pinellas County Veterans Association holds open door meetings for all Veterans & community citizens on the LAST Wednesday of every month at 1200 hrs at the Palm Harbor Chamber of Commerce. The PCVA is also involved in the Tarpon Springs & Upper Tampa Bay Chambers of Commerce as well and currently flies their flag with our corporate sponsors like Curlew Hills Memorial Gardens and others.
GIVING BACK THROUGH OUR MISSIONS
Here at the Pinellas County Veterans Association, we not only supporting our local Veterans with proper resources and information but more importantly, we believe in the power of giving back to our communities by donating our time and resources to recognize and preserve the honor and reverence of all of the heroes which have served our country through initiatives, special events, and collaborations with our partners.
PALM HARBOR HERO FEST
Palm Harbor’s First Hero Fest Honors Local Veterans and First Responders with Record-Breaking Community Support
Palm Harbor, FL – [June 8, 2025]– The inaugural Hero Fest, held on May 17, 2025, in downtown Palm Harbor, exceeded all expectations, bringing together thousands of community members to honor and celebrate the real heroes among us: our veterans and first responders. The family-friendly, all-day street festival raised enough funds to donate to seven local and national charities, marking an incredible milestone in its first year.
With over 120 vendors, dozens of generous sponsors, and an all-star lineup featuring three live bands, Hero Fest transformed downtown Palm Harbor into a vibrant hub of gratitude, giving, and celebration. Attendees enjoyed an array of activities, including a special VIP area for WW2, Vietnam, and Korean War veterans, where they were treated like the honored guests they are.
The Crabby Bill’s VIP Lounge offered an elevated experience for event sponsors and guests, and festivalgoers of all ages enjoyed interactive experiences, delicious local food, and community camaraderie.
“This event was created to bring people together for a cause that truly matters, and the outpouring of support shows that Palm Harbor is a community that stands behind its heroes,” said Lacy Empkey, event producer and founder of In Alignment Collective. “We’re incredibly proud to announce that proceeds from Hero Fest will directly benefit seven impactful nonprofit organizations doing critical work to support veterans and first responders.”
Hero Fest wouldn’t have been possible without the tireless work of dozens of volunteers Pinellas County Veterans Association, the Palm Harbor Fire and Police Departments, our entertainment partners, and the countless individuals and businesses who gave their time, talent, and resources to make this event a success.
As we look to the future, planning is already underway for Hero Fest 2026, returning to Palm Harbor on May 2nd. We look forward to growing this mission-driven celebration and honoring even more heroes in the years to come.
THE VETERAN VOICES
The Veteran Voices mission is an initiative we started to highlight the stories of the local men & women within the community who have worn one of the uniforms of the United States Military.
This is not simply just another book of war stories. Those types of projects have been replicated many times over the years. This mission specifically showcases 100 Veterans within their respective communities of WHO they are as a person, what inspired them to join the military, some details of their service, and what they currently do within their community.
Each edition of these books will be archived within the public libraries and the recorded interviews stored online and made available on every social media platform and podcast channel to be made available for any person to be able to go back and review their parents, grandparents, relatives and friends for years to come.
This mission is only made possible with the financial support of Veteran owned and Patriotic businesses and volunteers.
WALLS OF HONOR
The Walls of Honor mission allows us to create or recreate Walls of Honor within the retirement, Assisted Living, and medical facilities throughout Pinellas County. We started this initiative with the Highland Lakes Assisted Facility of St Marks here in Palm Harbor, FL along with all of the Mease Living Facilities.
We are always accepting volunteers and donations to support and assist with this philanthropic mission.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
David Vargas
President
United States Air Force Veteran (Retired)Board Member of the Palm Harbor Chamber of Commerce
CEO/President of Veteran Laserworx LLC
Gregory Tily
Vice President
United States Army Veteran (Retired)
VA Loan & Mortgages with UMortgage
Christopher Winckel
United States Marines and Coast Guard Veteran (Retired) Realtor with Impact Reality
Christopher Winckel
Anthony Pagliari
United States Air Force (Retired) Law Enforcement Officer Owner of Game Day Men’s Health
Anthony Pagliari
Matthew Mennenga
Treasurer
CEO/President of the Palm Harbor Chamber of Commerce
Robert & Jennifer Kidwell
United States Marine Corps Veteran
Realtors (The Kidwell Group @ Dalton Wade)
David Vargas
President
United States Air Force Veteran (Retired)Board Member of the Palm Harbor Chamber of Commerce
CEO/President of Veteran Laserworx LLC
Gregory Tily
Vice President
United States Army Veteran (Retired)
VA Loan & Mortgages with UMortgage
Christopher Winckel
Sergeant at Arms
United States Marines and Coast Guard Veteran (Retired)
Realtor with Impact Reality
Anthony Pagliari
Secretary
United States Air Force (Retired)
Law Enforcement Officer
Owner of Game Day Men’s Health
Matthew Mennenga
Treasurer
CEO/President of the Palm Harbor Chamber of Commerce
Robert & Jennifer Kidwell
United States Marine Corps Veteran
Realtors (The Kidwell Group @ Dalton Wade)
COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS & RESOURCES
CONTACT US
info@pinellascountyveteransassociation.com
(727) 408-2138 / (727) 386-2821
