Any way you look at it, the events of that day were emotional. What began as a celebration of his anniversary ended with Sgt. 1st Class Ommy Irizarry and his daughter Oceana being killed in freak accident when a small plane crash-landed, July 27th, 2014 on the beach near Sarasota.
With all tragedies that occur in life, those events left an indelible scar as Rebecca and Ava Irizarry struggle toward healing.
To continue toward healing and also share the memory of Ommy and Oceana with everyone, their portraits will memorialized with floragraphs on the Donate Life float during the January 1st Rose Parade in Pasadena, California.
The Donate Life float is sponsored by LifeLink, which facilitates organ and tissue donation in West Florida, the state of Georgia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
As Rebecca and 7-year old Ava completed the floral portraits, Ava's infectious smile filled the room as she ceremonially finished the likeness culminating with the eyebrows of her father. Ava paused for a moment and whispered something to her mother.
Gaining the courage to speak to the crowd gathered for the finishing touches of the floragraph, Ava said, "Ommy and Oceana were the best people in my life." Ava continued, "They were always happy. My dad- he was always smiling. My sister -- we fought over TV shows sometimes but I loved her very much."
"They were very generous, warm-hearted people, Rebecca said. "Always ready to help anyone that needed it. They were pretty perfect."
Ommy Irizarry was assigned to Fort Stewart's Warrior Transition Unit when the tragic accident occurred. Rebecca, an Army veteran, said the floragraphs were "a great remembrance."
Related Links:
Rose Parade to memorialize Fort Stewart Warrior Transition Unit Soldier and daughter
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