MIAMI — Alex Kruger-Dobrota has come to plant flags at the Miami City Cemetery for the last 11 years on Memorial Day weekend.
“I don’t see any other reason to celebrate besides honoring those who gave everything to sacrifice,” Alex said.
Each is a symbol of those who gave months, years, or their life for their country. He came across the headstone of a veteran who served in World War I, World War II, and the Korean War.
“If you’ve been through all of that, which is I think the worst of the wars then this is a man who gave it all,” Alex said.
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He used to plant the flags with his friend Dalton, who he served with in the U.S. Marines. Dalton passed away two years ago from an overdose. Alex says he was having trouble living a less rigid life than that in the military.
“If you don’t have that anymore, you find alternatives to fill that void,” Dalton said. “And a lot of people in the Military turn to whatever reason to fill that void whether it’s adrenaline sports or drugs.”
The site reminds him of a seven-month tour in Afghanistan. Alex was a sniper and remembers how IEDs were hidden all over the town he was in.
“Two of my good friends from my old unit, unfortunately, were killed in action,” Alex said. “Two buddies had both their legs amputated. The sergeant had his hand taken away. And I think about that almost every day.”
There are veterans buried here that date all the way back to the Spanish-American war. The Local VFW in Miami Beach is starting a campaign where they restore some of these headstones, to keep the memory of these veterans alive.
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Miami Beach’s VFW Commander Larry Leitner says it could take years to restore the headstones at the cemetery. He says Many are overdue,
“Some other cases, the headstones are falling below the ground,” Leitner said. “And they’re almost completely covered.”
Alex came across one headstone that was buried under so much dirt that you could barely see it.
“It’s kind of hidden,” Alex said. “His life isn’t really being honored in this way.”
Alex says repairing these stones is the least he can do. A survivor of war, honoring those who didn’t make it back.
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“You learn the value of life,” Alex said. “The people that gave it all. They did that so that we can enjoy our life.”
Steve Maugeri
Steve Maugeri joined the CBS News Miami team in April 2024. Steve has always loved the beach and is excited to live this close to the ocean within a major city as well!
ORLANDO, Fla. — Lionel Messi scored twice in a four-goal second half, defender Telasco Segovia added a goal and two assists and defending champion Inter Miami CF rallied to beat Orlando City SC 4-2 on Sunday night, winning for the first time at Inter&Co Stadium.
Messi took a pass from Segovia and scored in the 57th minute to tie it 2-2, and Segovia scored unassisted in the 85th for the lead. Messi put the finishing touch on the victory when he scored off a free kick in the 90th.
“The victory belongs exclusively to the players,” Miami coach Javier Mascherano said after the game. “In the second half, they were a championship team. There were no tactics, nothing like that. There was heart, courage, possession, resilience, commitment. I think the team came out because they were champions last year.
“In the end, the players showed it. This victory is theirs.”
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Messi’s first two goals of the season give him 52 in his first 55 regular-season MLS matches — 51 of them in his past 49 appearances. It also brought the reigning MLS MVP to 898 career goals scored, including 672 for Barcelona and 115 for Argentina.
“He’s the best player to ever play this sport. He’s a leader, and as a leader, he inspires others, but he also often needs to be inspired himself,” Mascherano said of Messi. “When he was driving forward, he had more attacking options, and with so many opportunities, he clearly has the ability to create chances like no one else, and that’s what allowed us to turn the game around.”
Marco Pašalić took a pass from Iván Angulo and scored in the 18th minute to give Orlando City a 1-0 lead. Pašalić has scored in four straight matches against Inter Miami.
Inter Miami players celebrate after scoring a goal against Orlando City in MLS.
Defender Griffin Dorsey set up Martín Ojeda for a goal six minutes later for a 2-0 advantage that stood through halftime.
Inter Miami cut it to 2-1 four minutes into the second half on Mateo Silvetti’s first career goal. Defenders Segovia and Facundo Mura had assists as the 20-year-old forward found the net in his fifth career appearance.
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Segovia had eight goals and six assists as a rookie last season, while Mura collected his first assist in his first season.
Dayne St. Clair, the reigning goalkeeper of the year, turned away three shots — all in the second half of his second start with Inter Miami, but let in a soft goal for Orlando’s first.
Maxime Crépeau had four saves in his second start for Orlando City.
Teenager Colin Guske, 19, will miss Orlando City’s next match after the rookie picked up two yellow cards in his first start — the second one led to his exit in the 88th minute.
Inter Miami, which had never won in its previous nine trips to Orlando, was coming off a 3-0 road loss to LAFC.
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Orlando City swept Inter Miami during the regular season last year and leads the all-time series 8-7-4.
Inter Miami plays D.C. United on Saturday at Audi Field. Orlando City is also on the road with a match against New York City FC.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this recap.
Rain floods Miami Beach streets, cut short Miami Heat Family Festival
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — Much-needed rain fell across South Florida on Sunday, but the downpour quickly led to flooding and traffic headaches.
“The drainage systems aren’t the best but in ten minutes it will be gone,” one person said.
The rain lasted longer than 10 minutes, flooding several spots along Collins Avenue in Miami Beach.
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In one neighborhood, at least a foot of water blocked the entrance. Drivers who attempted to pass through sent waves crashing onto nearby sidewalks.
The heavy rain also snarled traffic on parts of Interstate 95 and on the bridges to and from Miami Beach, slowing drivers trying to get around the area.
“It’s Miami for you. What do they call it, a sun shower?” one driver said.
The weather disrupted Sunday plans for many. The 26th annual Miami Heat Family Festival was cut short after strong winds swept through Dan Paul Plaza, knocking over several tents.
There is no word yet on how or when the Miami Heat plan to make up the family festival.
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Brett Knese
Brett Knese joined the Local 10 News team as a general assignment reporter in March 2025.
Jack and Jill of America’s Miami chapter closed out Black History Month with an inaugural “Roots Across Waters” trip to Nassau, where families explored ancestral sites, honored the Bahamian labor that helped build early Miami, and donated Afro‑Caribbean children’s books to local students.
