1. Professional Employment History:

•  Honorably Discharged/Retired, July 1989

Naval Military Service highlights:

• Assigned to the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, FMF, PAC, Iwakuni, Japan and 2nd Medical Battalion, FMF, LANT, Camp Lejeune, NC.
• Served aboard a Heavy Cruiser, USS Newport News (CA 148), Hospital Ship, USS Sanctuary, AH-17 deployed off the coast of Vietnam;
• Temporary duty aboard Destroyers and a Submarine in GTMO, Cuba and service in Vietnam in 1969-1970.
• Duty stations ashore began at NAAS Whiting Field, FL, Naval Hospital
• Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune, NC and Navy & Marine Corps Reserve Center Savannah, GA.
• Last duty station preceding retirement was the Defense Nuclear Agency, Armed Forces Radiobiological Research Institute, Bethesda, MD.

Civilian Work:

• Upon retirement Mr. Raysick worked as a Military Benefits Analyst for a company in Rockville, MD. In this capacity he developed a Claims Process Manual, focused on the translation of experience and military skills for transition into the private sector.

Advocacy on Behalf of Veterans:

•  Veteran Remembrance Ceremonies (planning and execution of over 150)
• Planning, Development, Fundraising and Erection of 14 Veteran Memorials
• Provision of Funeral/Burial Services
•  Judge Advocate/Community Service through Civic Organizations (Lions Club, Marine Corps League, Veterans Council of Hillsborough County
• Civilian Police/Citizen Services

Civic Activities / Contributions:

Walt serves on many Veteran Boards and Councils. Below highlights these engagements and activities with their Veteran nexus:

• Chairman of the Field of Honor and remembrance ceremonies at the Veterans Memorial Park and the Rear Admiral LeRoy Collins Jr. Veterans Museum in Tampa
  • Veteran Advocacy and Remembrance
  • Community Service

• Veterans Park and Rear Admiral LeRoy Collins Jr. Veterans Museum – Executive Board and Museum Committee Member for over 10 years
  • Community development and environmental conservation
  • Historical preservation of military traditions, artifacts, objects and landscapes
  • Fundraising for future military monuments
  • Design and development of new military related monuments
• Past president and current treasurer of the Hillsborough County Veterans Council –
  last 10 years.
  • Veteran benefits, issues, and advocacy
  • Preservation and expansion of county level Veterans benefits
• Judge Advocate, American Legion Alafia Post 149 – 2015-2017
  • Veteran Advocacy
  • Community Service
• Marine Corp League – Life Member
  • Veteran Advocacy
  • Community Service
• American Legion Florida Central Area
  • Statewide and Community Veteran Advocacy and Community Service
• Life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 8108, American Legion Post 148
  and Eagle Scout and JROTC Programs coordinator, AMVETS Post 44
  • Community service and support
• Life member and member of the Honor Guard for the Sgt Walter P. Ryan, Detachment
  1226, Marine Corps League
  • Community service and support
  • Veteran and family advocacy
• Pedigree Devil Dog for the Military Order of the Devil Dogs, Swamp Gator Pound 258,
  Florida Pack
  • Community service and support
• Olney Lions Club
  • Veteran Advocacy
  • Military and Veteran Suicide Prevention
  • Veterans and Family members mental health support
  • Diversity Equity and Inclusion
• President, Crime Stoppers in Maryland
  • Community Service
• Volunteer at the Nativity Catholic Community Church Food Bank from 2004-2010
  • Community service and support
• Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Citizens Academy Graduate and Volunteer w/the Cold Case Team of the Homicide Unit from 2004-2016
  • Crime prevention and investigation
• Hillsborough County Crimestoppers from 1989 to 2008
  • Community service and support
  • Crime prevention

List of Awards and Honors

• Military:
• Defense Meritorious Service Medal
• Meritorious Service Medal w/Gold Star in lieu of Second Award
• Joint Services Achievement Medal
• Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal
• National Defense Service Medal
• Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal – Cuba
• Vietnam Service medal w/4 Bronze Stars
• Vietnam Campaign Medal w/Device
• RVN Armed Forces Ribbon
• Meritorious Unit Citation (Gallantry Cross)
• Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
• Good Conduct Award (7th Award)
• M16 Rifle Expert Badge
• RVN Meritorious Unit Citation -CIV w/Palm

 Civil:

• City of Brandon Chamber of Commerce – 2021 Key Citizen Award – for
  volunteerism
• Alice B. Tomkins 2017 Award (Tampa Bay Times Newspaper) for making a positive
  impact in the greater Brandon Community through his commitment of time and
  talent.
• Marine Corps Leagues – Chapel of Four Chaplains Award 2016 (National Award
  recognizing volunteer service and advocacy to all people of all races and faiths)
• Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Citizen Awards – 2006 & 2010

Nomination Narrative:

For many people, retirement is synonymous with rest and relaxation. It is time to let go of most responsibilities, rest, and relax, travel and enjoy a simple life. Fortunately, no one told Walt Raysick of Valrico, FL. Walter E. “Walt” Raysick is a humble servant of the people, and a non-paid one as well. When it comes to community service, especially service to our Veterans, Walt was just getting warmed up! After serving 30 years in the military and more than a dozen in the private sector, Walt knew he had a heart for service to others and by his actions he would show that heart. Walt, despite his declining health, continues to be an amazing and inspiring advocate to Veterans. He fervently believes that honoring our Veterans is the most impactful thing we can do for our community, our city, and our country writ large. Directly following his retirement from military and civilian service, Walt immediately immersed himself in the community with his volunteer work joining several community service organizations, boards, patriotic activities, and events within and around Florida’s veteran community. Walt supported hundreds of thousands of military servicemembers, veterans and their families in the State of Florida through personal interaction, facilitating ceremonies to honor them, or through civic action as a member of numerous committees. Walt labels his military duty and continued civilian volunteer service as a sense of duty and pride.

Attesting to this service, moving to Brandon in 2004, Raysick said he “immediately got involved with programs and patriotic events,” noting his involvement that includes volunteerism with the Greater Brandon Fourth of July Parade, Hillsborough County Veterans Council, AMVETS Post 44, American Legion Post 148, Marine Corps League Detachment 1226, Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay and both the Brandon Chamber’s Military Affairs Council and the Riverview Chamber’s Military Affairs Committee, just to name a few. His most impressive accomplishment is his service supporting ceremonies held at Tampa’s Veterans Memorial Park. The Veterans Memorial Park has grown to host over a dozen Veteran recognition ceremonies annually since it began conducting ceremonies at this facility over 58 years ago. Walt has been instrumental in the planning, coordinating and execution of these programs for the last 25 years. These programs include but are not limited to: Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony, Field of Honor Ceremony, Veterans Day Ceremony, Korean War Commemoration Ceremony, World War I and II Commemoration Ceremonies, Vietnam War Remembrance, Gulf War Remembrance, etc. The most recent ceremony added to the more traditional ceremonies Walt presides over is the Field of Honor Ceremony which recognizes the 6,800 fallen heroes killed during Operation Enduring
Freedom/Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn. One of the Field of Honor Ceremonies is highlighted below: 

Field of Honor ceremony and Memorial U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Paul Bontrager, 

U.S. Central Command Deputy Director of Operations, left, and Hillsborough County Veterans Council Member Walt Raysick, right, address attendees during a Field of Honor ceremony July 14, 2018 at the Veterans Memorial Park near Tampa, Fla. The ceremony honors the U.S. military and law enforcement personnel who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. 

Walt was also instrumental in every facet of bringing Veteran memorials to Tampa’s Veterans Memorial Park. The park which currently houses over 14 Memorials, Walt, serving as a member of the Memorials Committee, supported the planning, fund-raising efforts, placement, and the monuments on the park grounds. Walt knew that the monuments had to share the vision and sentiments of the individual war Veterans and Veteran Group Members. Thanks in part to Walt’s efforts, the Veterans Memorial Park exceeded this vision and received several
awards from the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council and the community received a moving and fitting tribute to those whose sacrifices have long deserved to be recognized, honored, and memorialized. Walt also touched individual Veterans and their families in a most impactful way, participating in the
funerals/burials of more than 100 veterans since moving to Florida. Most recently, Walt supported a final muster for a Marine who died broke providing both personal and financial support to ensure the Marine received a homegoing service commensurate with his military service. Walt believes you are never too young to serve. During a 27 December 2018 meeting, Walt was instrumental in developing and presenting the American Legion’s Good Citizen Award to Eagle Scout, Casey R. Hamilton for his service in support of Veterans and the Veterans Memorial Park. A photo of the award presentation is below:

Understanding that military service is a path to success, Walt also oversees the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) Scholarship Program and presents awards from the Hillsborough Veterans Council to multiple high schools annually. Volunteerism is an act of kindness; being part of change, giving and receiving energy. It is a contribution of time, effort and talent to a need, cause or mission without financial gain. Volunteering is all about you being
able to contribute some of your own time to help people in our communities and the environment they reside in. Walter Raysick has done this and more. When asked why so much volunteerism, Walt remarked; “I believe everybody when they retire needs to do some kind of nonprofit service,” Raysick said. “Volunteerism will keep your mind sharp!”

In summary, Walt Raysick’s service, all of which is nearly 100% volunteer – unpaid service, spans state, county, community, and individual Veteran levels. His efforts have, and continues to have a positive impact on the Hillsborough County community and anyone who visits the Veterans Memorial Park in Tampa, FL. If anyone deserves nomination into the Florida Veteran’s Hall of Fame, it is Walter Raysick