A Talent Search for three ?Florida Idols? will be held Sunday, May 30, from 12-4 pm, at the Wounded Warrior Memorial Day Weekend Picnic at Renaissance Village (Goodlette Road and 3rd Ave. South), Naples, FL. Up to three contestants from a Karaoke and Open Mic sing-off, chosen by the audience, will share 15 minutes of fame, opening for headliner and country music star Michael Peterson and Gospel singer Clint Brown at the Memorial Day Concert at Cambria Park the following day, Monday, May 31, at 6:00 pm. Naples Mayor Bill Barnett will MC the Concert.
The Sunday picnic and Monday concert are all part of a Memorial Day weekend ?Purple Heart Fundraising? tribute honoring two of the nation?s most severely wounded Iraqi veterans, Staff Sergeant José Pequeño and Lance Corporal John T Doody. Proceeds from the suggested $30 concert donations will help purchase a home for José Pequeño and therapeutic pool for JT Doody. (www.FGCU.us)
?The Memorial Day weekend in Naples, Florida, will be a time to collectively reflect on the impact of lives lost in U.S. wars, and to empower war veterans on their journey back to reclaim the independence sacrificed defending America?s freedom,? says event organizer and advocate for people with disabilities, Gary Kluckhuhn.
Sunday?s picnic begins at noon with ?The Marine Corps Hymn? performed by bagpipe player Don Gollar. Local popular singer Tom Macchia will sing ?God Bless the USA.? Roger Armstrong will perform a variety of classic favorites. The Dixieland Band, 18th Street Dixie Jammers, will perform from 3:00 to 4:00 pm.
Amphibious airplane, motorcycle, and regional antique, classic and sports car clubs will converge on Renaissance Village for the picnic, featuring a barbecue on a wood burning smoker grill with BBQ ribs, pulled pork, chicken, fish and shrimp, and both Jimmy P?s and ?Heroes to Hometowns? BBQ Sauces. (www.h2hBBQ.com)
A raffle and auction for gift certificates from local businesses will represent some of the many Florida Gulf Coast local and regional businesses, organizations and citizens contributing time and resources to these Memorial Day weekend events. Proceeds from picnic activities will also help the vets.
For more information about the Memorial Day Weekend Picnic and Concert, the wounded warriors being honored at this event, or links to their websites for instructions on how to contribute to them, go to www.FGCU.us.
AngelsOverAmerica.org is a sponsor and promoter of the Purple Heart Memorial Day weekend events.
Soldiers of the Past
A consortium of Collier County Veterans will host an unrelated annual event on Monday, May 31, 9:45 to 11:00 am, to pay tribute to all who have served in our Military Forces, from the first armed resistance against the King of England on April 19th 1775, to those on active duty serving throughout the world.
Re-enactors from Collier County Museum?s ?Soldiers of the Past? parade one-by-one in authentic period uniforms, accompanied by historical quotations and commentary by historian and Chaplin Lt. Col. Robert Hartman, U.S. Army (Ret.). This event will take place at Naples Memorial Gardens, 515 11th Avenue, N, Naples. FL.
?I view this program as a significant historical retrospective of those who dedicated their service to the formation of our Country and to those who have paid the Ultimate Sacrifice,? said U.S. Army Capt. (Ret.) James Elson, recent past president of Collier County Veterans Council, the umbrella organization for 16 regional veterans associations and sponsor of the annual event.