MIRAMAR, FL (Le Floridien) — The City of Miramar recently concluded a two-month celebration honoring some of its most distinguished residents — men and women whose lives embody service, sacrifice, and community spirit. Among the seventeen honorees, one name resonated deeply within South Florida’s Haitian community: Wilner Valcin, affectionately known as “Master V.”
The extended celebration began on Thursday, September 11, during the solemn commemoration of the 24th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, held at Miramar Regional Park. The event set the tone for a season of gratitude that would span weeks of civic tributes and community gatherings.
Since that day, banners featuring the honorees — including one with Valcin’s photograph — have adorned light poles at Miramar Regional Park and will remain on display through the end of the year. These symbols of recognition underscore the city’s appreciation for those who have made outstanding contributions to their community and nation.
The two-month tribute reached its high points with two signature events: a City Commission Room ceremony recognizing each honoree with an official proclamation, and the Annual Veterans Day Ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park, which united families, veterans, and residents in reflection and pride.
Recognition at City Hall
On Tuesday, November 5, the Miramar City Commission Chamber was filled with families, civic leaders, and local residents for a moving presentation led by Mayor Wayne M. Messam and the City Commission. The event formed part of the city’s official observance of National Veterans and Military Family Month.
As the honorees entered the chamber, they were greeted with warm applause and presented with scaled replicas of their commemorative banners as keepsakes. Each of the twelve honorees then received an official proclamation of recognition entitled “National Veterans and Military Family Month,” personally presented by Mayor Messam and the commissioners.
“These honorees embody the very best of Miramar — the highest ideals of integrity, community, and service,” said Mayor Messam, underscoring the city’s pride in recognizing its most exemplary residents.
For Wilner “Master V” Valcin, the moment was especially meaningful. After immigrating from Haiti in 1963, Valcin enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving in Military Intelligence at Fort Dix, Seattle, and Germany before later joining the Army Reserve. Following his military service, he worked for more than two decades in the federal government before turning his energy toward cultural and entrepreneurial pursuits.
In South Florida, Valcin became a pillar of the Haitian-American community, owning the well-known Djumbala Night Club and Triomphe Manor, and later founding Master V Productions and Paralegal Masters in Miramar. His work has helped promote Haitian culture, support local artists, and empower young professionals.
“It is humbling to be recognized by the city I’ve called home for over three decades,” Valcin told Le Floridien. “Service to my country and my community has always been my greatest reward.”
Valcin attended the ceremony accompanied by several family members, including his wife, Myrto Cavé Valcin, who shared in the pride and joy of the evening.
Veterans Day at Veterans Memorial Park
The two-month celebration culminated on Tuesday, November 11, as residents gathered beneath clear autumn skies at Veterans Memorial Park for Miramar’s Annual Veterans Day Ceremony. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the park’s east-side pavilion became a setting of remembrance, gratitude, and pride — a fitting finale to the city’s long tribute to service.
American flags lined the walkways, fluttering gently in the breeze as the crowd filled the park. The ceremony began with welcoming remarks from Kelvin L. Baker Sr., the city’s Deputy Manager, who set the tone for a morning devoted to honoring those who served.
The Presentation of Colors was conducted by the Miramar Police Department and Fire-Rescue Honor Guards, joined by the Miramar High School ROTC, followed by a stirring performance of the National Anthem by the Miramar High School Choir. The clear, youthful voices echoed across the pavilion, drawing a wave of applause from the audience.
Chaplain Mark Hattabaugh of the Miramar Police Department then delivered a heartfelt invocation, offering prayers for veterans, active-duty service members, and their families. His words, solemn and compassionate, set a reverent tone for the ceremony.
Each member of the City Commission took a moment to address the audience, sharing reflections on sacrifice, duty, and the meaning of service. During his remarks at the event — aptly titled “Honoring All Who Have Served” — Mayor Wayne M. Messam reminded attendees that service extends beyond the battlefield.
“Service to one’s country and city takes many forms — in uniform, in civic life, and in the ways we uplift others,” he said. His message drew nods of agreement and warm applause as veterans were later presented with medals and certificates of appreciation for their dedication and valor.
The keynote address, delivered by Sergeant Leslie Carcamo, paid tribute to the resilience and unity that bind America’s servicemen and women. His words captured both the pride and the pain of service, leaving many in the audience visibly moved.
A flag retirement ceremony followed — a solemn ritual that underscored the deep respect owed to the nation’s emblem and those who have defended it. Rows of veterans stood shoulder to shoulder with their families, hands over their hearts, as the worn flags were ceremonially retired in silence.
The atmosphere throughout was both reflective and celebratory — a vivid portrait of a community bound together by shared respect and remembrance.
As the formal program concluded, attendees gathered under the pavilion for light refreshments, conversation, and photographs beside the park’s granite memorial walls. Families embraced, veterans exchanged salutes, and friends lingered in fellowship.
Several residents approached Wilner “Master V” Valcin to congratulate him personally — expressing admiration not only for his service in the U.S. Army, but also for his enduring contributions to Haitian culture and community life in South Florida. For many, his presence symbolized the diversity, strength, and unity that define Miramar’s spirit.
It was, in every sense, a day of gratitude — one that reflected the city’s unwavering commitment to honoring those who have given so much in service to others.
A Fitting Tribute
For the City of Miramar, this extended celebration was far more than a civic ritual — it was a sincere declaration of gratitude. For Wilner “Master V” Valcin, it marked the culmination of a lifetime devoted to service, leadership, and cultural pride.
His journey — from a young Haitian immigrant soldier to a respected community figure — captures the essence of the American dream in its most selfless and inspiring form.
As the final notes of the national anthem echoed across Veterans Memorial Park, Valcin and his fellow honorees stood side by side for an official souvenir photo — their faces reflecting pride, humility, and unity.
In celebrating these seventeen men and women, Miramar reaffirmed its enduring spirit of service — one that continues to inspire both longtime residents and new generations who now call this vibrant city home.
