Six months ago we set out to create a special event at Patriot Plaza to celebrate the 239th Birthday of Old Glory. What resulted from our efforts was "You're a Grand Old Flag", a ceremony intended to be entertaining, inspirational and educational for all. From all accounts...we hit our mark and I applaud your efforts for making that possible.
While the late afternoon storm may have discouraged some from attending , it is estimated that we still had close to 2000 people in attendance. With the help of our military chaplains, the weather cleared and people arrived in time to pay their respects to those killed and injured in Orlando earlier in the day; listen to a truly magnificent performance by Gloria Musicae and The POPS Orchestra for Bradenton and Sarasota; and watch American Legion Post 159 perform a Flag Retirement Ceremony with the help of Girl Scout Troop 586 and Young Marines from Venice Middle School.
Behind the scenes were photographers, film makers, audio technicians, ushers, golf cart operators, docents, and a rain soaked group of parking attendants comprised of Cadets from SMA Middle Preparatory School and Student Veterans from USF Sarasota-Manatee...all doing their assigned tasks without complaint.
And who can forget the magnificent support provided by the Cemetery staff who covered the bases that we missed and helped clean up at the end.
A real team effort for which I am most grateful and to which I proudly extend my sincere thanks.
THANK YOU, ALL!!
Tom Piazze
