Bushnell Carillon Remains Mute from Lightning Damage
Local News Staff 
Florida National Cemetery's carillon will not be chiming in for Armed Forces Day or Memorial Day in Bushnell this year. A lightning bolt struck the carillon last year which caused severe electrical damage. A spokesman for the cemetery said the damage first became apparent in December of 2021, although none of the parts have been replaced.
Kirk Leopard, Executive Director at Florida National, informed the Local News of the difficulties the cemetery faced in finding proper parts for the carillon: "...it is an older system that needs a new circuit board due to a lightning strike. I have my staff working to locate the parts and someone to do the repairs. [We]’d love to hear the carillon announcing reville in the morning, taps in the evening, and other patriotic songs during the day when we don’t have funeral services."
Florida National Cemetery is operated by the National Cemetery Administration, a subdivision of the Veterans Administration. The agency's fiscal year 2021 budget indicates $282,000 in appropriations to fund facility operations, a dip from 2020's $360,000 budget.
Neither state nor federal elected officials responded for immediate comment when the Local News reached out to State Rep. Anthony Sabatini and Congressman Daniel Webster.
