Page 54 - August Life In Naples Magazine

NAPLES SPIRIT OF 45 WEEKEND TRIBUTE

by Lois Bolin Fanning the Flames of The Sacred Fire of Liberty
"T he preservation of the sacred the Spirit of 45 Weekend Tribute with the 9th Annual Greatest Generation & Beyond
Old Naples Historian

fire of liberty, and the destiny
Breakfast and Taps Across America.
9th Annual Thank You
of the republican model
of government, are justly
considered as deeply, perhaps as finally staked, On August 11th, at the Naples Hilton some 320 plus veterans, sponsors and
volunteers will come together to acknowledge a generation who survived the Great
on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the Depression, defeated the greatest tyranny the world has ever known then rebuilt a
American people."
shattered world at home and in the lands of their former enemies.
George Washington, first inaugural address, Veterans will receive paracord bracelets courtesy of the The Latchkey Kids and Purple
April 30, 1789 Heart Tribute bracelets from A. Jaron Fine Jewelry. Along the way, they will stop for
The idea of liberty and the republican model
photos at the Patriot Booth, the Supervisor of Election’s Vote in Honor of a Veteran booth,
of government began in Rome and were solidly a Purple Heart exhibit, and the 16-foot Patriot Wall created by Melinda Clark.
linked two thousand years later at George
This year’s program will feature soloists Tess Cornus and Marine Corps Veteran,
Washington’s inauguration, when he endorsed Daniel Melvin along with special entertainment by Dancing Feat, Freedom Kids
the “sacred” experiment of the American people. and Magic by Special Forces Veteran, Brian Boyd. The national anthem will be sung
The Declaration of Independence, written a
acapella by Nathan and Hanna Watt, children of USAF Veteran, Diana Watt and Miss
century and a half after the colony of Virginia Maddie Rigsby, will lead the Pledge of Allegiance.
was first established in 1607, gave several
After the close of the program, Veterans will come to the stage for their group
generations of Colonist a taste of freedom - photo, compliments of fine arts photographer, Heather Cornus, and depart with pride
freedom that was threatened with new British along with an Oakes Farm Market Victory Garden Bag and autographed watercolor of
laws and taxes. Yet, the “sacred fire of liberty”,
the American Flag by Steven Souder.
seared into their souls, launched the idea On August 12th (2nd Sunday in August), the official day honoring the ending
of national sovereignty and a declaration of
of WWII, the 9th Annual Taps Across America at Lowdermilk will continue with is
independence for the 13 British colonies. traditional sunset ceremony of music, USSVI Submarine, Garrison flag unfolding, wreath
WWII: Will the Sacred Fire Last? at sea, Taps played on the beach with a patriotic flyover followed by Royal Scoop Ice
It is the 78th anniversary of Franklin Delano Cream at Berkshire Place Ice Cream Social and Sage Catering Spirit cookies.
Roosevelt’s “Four Freedoms Speech.” It outlined Patriotic Alliances
the essential human freedoms: freedom of speech and As George Washington said, “A primary object should be the education of our youth
expression; freedom to worship God in our own way; in the science of government. In a republic, what species of knowledge can be equally
freedom from want, and freedom from fear. important? And what duty more pressing than communicating it to those who are to
Eleven months later those freedoms were be the future guardians of the liberties of the country?” We concur; so, do our Alliance
challenged and four and half years later, on August members: Collier County Veterans Council; Gulf Coast Veterans & Friends; Gold and
14, 1945, when Truman announced that WWII Blue Star Mothers; VFW 7721 and its Auxiliary; MCL of Naples; USSIV Naples Base;
was over, Americans rejoiced knowing those Collier JROTC; Latchkey Kids; Flotilla Base 93; Naples Vet Center and more.
freedoms were in tact - our American Experiment We are so proud to work these groups because the “preservation of the sacred fire of
had been preserved. liberty and the destiny of the republican model of government, is entrusted…” into all of
Two hundred and forty-two years after the our hands.
Declaration of Independence and two hundred Reservations are required for the Greatest Generation Breakfast. Contact Lois
and twenty-nine years after the Constitution was Bolin at 239.777.2281. NO RSVP is required for Taps Across America. For more
ratified, SWFL Veterans Alliance will again honor information, contact USAF Veteran, Dr. J.B. Holmes or Army Veteran, Dusty Holmes at
these “guardians of the sacred fire of liberty” with 239.304.5258.

54 Life in Naples | Aug/Sept/Oct 2018