Spectacular success

The 2007 Veterans Appreciation Parade was a spectacular success this morning! Our parade to honor veterans has come a long way, baby, and we hit the big time this morning in downtown Brooksville. A special thanks needs to go out to the Hernando County Fine Arts Council for taking the parade under their wing this year.

A special mention needs to be made of the individuals that opened up the wallets and their hearts to pool money for the insurance coverage of this parade. In order of donations that rolled in for the parade were from Jim King, Wayne Dukes, Jennene Norman-Vacha, Tony and Anna Liisa Covell, and Henry and Janet Searcy.

My hats off to the city manager, Jennene Norman-Vacha for lending her support to make this parade a success. Sgt. Maeder from the Brooksville Police Department did an outstanding job with our new, and improved, parade route that went as smooth as silk this year. I was excited to see everyone again this year along with some new faces to make this the biggest and best parade to date.

One lady this morning made all this parade preparation worthwhile for me. She asked if she could walk in the parade with the folded American flag from the recent internment of her husband in the National Cemetery of Bushnell. She was worried whether she would fit into our celebration of veterans. I asked Commissioner David Russell to take her under his wing as they walked the parade. He quickly obliged and walked with her though out the route. This is why this parade is so special in my heart. It is all the good people that love our veterans and just want to say thank you.

Thanks from the bottom of my heart to those that came to view our parade and to those who came to participate this morning, as listed below:

· Hernando High School Band

· JROTC units from Springstead, Hernando & Central High Schools

· American Legion, Post 99

· Operation Pride

· Hernando Sportsman Club / Military Vehicles

· Hernando County Sheriff's Honor Guard

· Joint Veterans Commission / Florida National Cemetery / Bushnell

· Cub Scout Pack 443

· Young Marines / Marine Corp League 708

· Representatives for Congresswoman Ginny Brown-Waite

husband Harvey & District Director, Shirley Anderson

· Commissioners Stabins, Rocco, Kingsley and Russell

· Judge Stephen Rushing & wife Mia

· "Saluting Military & Veterans Float" /Bay Pines Veteran volunteers

· Members of DAV Tampa

· Ye Mystic Air Krewe / Tampa for Fly-Over

· Jenenne Norman-Vacha (city manager) & veteran husband

· Hernando County Fire Rescue / 3 trucks & honor guard

· Women’s Army Corp / Chapter 97· Moose Lodge

· Moose Lodge

· Daughters of American Revolution

· National Federation of the Blind

· Hernando Guide Dog, Inc. members

· John Druzbick & wife, Debbie

· Spence & Ed McKenzie with military vehicles

· Wayne Dukes & wife, Silvia

· John Nicole, Santa Harley Rider

· Harley Riders from Coney Island weekly bike group

· Bob Haa, WWJB

· Sheriff Richard Nugent

· THE Bus

· Mini-horse with cart / Mr. & Mrs. Lent

· Brooksville City Coucilman Frankie Burnett

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See You All Next Year!