About this Event
This Veterans Weekend, Illuminations on the ORB, Honoring Our Veterans transforms The Betsy Orb into a beacon of civic gratitude. Nightly from 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM, with the illumination beginning at 9:00 PM, the installation transmits citizen-prepared letters and poetry honoring veterans and their resilient families.
Presented as part of the city-wide Veterans Day observance, The Betsy Hotel's participation illuminates powerful community-created messages of gratitude, hope, and remembrance. This landmark installation is made possible through a vital partnership with Miami Beach VFW Post 3559, with profound appreciation to USMC Veteran Alex Kruger-Dobrota for creating and coordinating the project and for his dedicated service to our country.
On Nov 7 and 8, guests can also experience continuous showings, from noon to 9:00 PM, of Nothing Can Be Done, But Something Can Be Said, a 2010 short documentary and multimedia film created in partnership with The Betsy-South Beach and the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus. The film explores Miami Beach's historic role as a staging ground and training hub for more than 500,000 soldiers during World War II through archival footage, recorded interviews with South Florida war veterans, and wartime poetry connected to Hyam Plutzik.
Plutzik's service as a soldier-poet, including his military training across the American South and later deployment to England, gives the film and the weekend program added resonance. His connection to Florida, Miami Beach, and the literary legacy honored through The Betsy Writer's Room makes the documentary especially meaningful within this Veterans Weekend presentation.
Event venue & nearby stays
The Betsy Orb, Ocean Court, Miami Beach, United States
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