The 6th Military Salute will be on Saturday, March 19th at Horan Park in St. Pete Beach. All are invited for a fun, family, all-day event including a “Street Fair” with a Competition Car Show organized by the Veterans of South Pinellas County, Live All Day Music, Exhibits, Vendors through SIK Promotions, Food, Beer & Wine including St. Pete Beach Fire Department’s booth for pulled pork platters, hot dogs, hamburgers, Gennaro’s Pizzeria and Pasta, VSPC Chowders Hounds for authentic “New England” style Chowder. Also the Snack Shack with Snow-Cones, Pretzels, Popcorn & the favorite, Funnel Cakes. The Kids’ Fishing Tournament with prizes, gets underway at 2pm, sponsored by Gulf to Bay Bait & Tackle Shop.
They expect to have a great display of Antique Fire Engines, Military & Rescue Vehicles.
A Silent Auction will feature great prizes including hotel stays, restaurant vouchers, golf outings, artwork, etc. … A “Special Raffle” will offer a day flight to Key West, spending the day and a beautiful sunset flight home. Several 50/50 Drawings will be held every two hours throughout the day as well.
Opening ceremonies will include a meaningful Joint-Services Military Enlistment Ceremony and special presentation of three flags to honor WW II veterans. Representatives from the Veterans Administration will be on hand during the day to explain benefits & help register veterans into the system.
The Veterans of South Pinellas County, an all-volunteer group, is a well-organized 501(c)(3) charity that works independently and with several other military charity organizations in order to raise funds on behalf of deserving veterans and active military who are deployed and in harm’s way.
Included on the hard-working committee for this event are President Harry Metz and Board Members Howard Fletcher, Brooks Cavender, Virginia McNivens, Wayne MacDowell, Jim Williams, Lance Peterson, Allen Collins.
The Veterans of South Pinellas County also invite both military veterans and non-military interested individuals to its monthly breakfast. It is held at 8 am the last Friday in Tierra Verde at the Island Grill & Raw Bar Restaurant, 110 Pinellas Bayway South, on the way to Fort De Soto. For more information on the Veterans of South Pinellas County, contact Brooks Cavender at brooksc@writeme.com.
Story by Steve Traiman
[Editor’s Note: special thanks to Wayne MacDowell and Brooks Cavender for their information and artwork.]