patrick stratton🇺🇸

It isn’t everyday that I get the honor of bestowing a key to the city, but today was special as we honored Dick and Alice Stratton for their lifelong service to our country. After being shot down during the Vietnam War in 1967, Dick became a prisoner of war for more than 5 years before his release. During that time, Alice and several wives of other POWs raised awareness of the need for humane treatment of U.S. soldiers by speaking to local organizations, holding press conferences, conducting letter writing campaigns, and forming the National League of Families of POW/MIAs. In 1985, Alice became the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Personnel and Family Matters and oversaw the implementation of Family Service Centers across the country. The Center in Annapolis, Maryland is named after Dick and Alice. We cannot thank Alice and Dick enough for their sacrifices and hard work. It is my honor to recognize their lifelong service with an official key to the City of Jacksonville.