Lakewood Ranch plans tribute for veterans

LAKEWOOD RANCH — It’s time again to fill up the truck.

The third annual Tribute to Heroes Memorial Day Parade will be held from 6-9 p.m., May 29, on Lakewood Ranch Main Street, and organizers again will be collecting goods to send to soldiers serving overseas.

“Whether you are for or against (war), these guys are risking their lives,” Ed’s Tavern owner and event co-organizer John Breiner said. “The focus of the parade is to raise awareness and goods to thank those guys for their service. We want to fill this truck up.”

Festivities will kickoff with a parade down Lakewood Ranch Main Street — starting at the Polo Grill and working its way toward Ed’s Tavern — at 6 p.m. The parade will feature performances by the Lakewood Ranch High School Marching Band and the Lakewood Ranch Silver Stars as well as a bicycle brigade from Little Bookworms.

“We have a lot of participants this year,” Breiner said. “It’s a town event, and everybody should come out.”
 
A brief ceremony, featuring the presentation of colors, the national anthem and the playing of military fight songs and of taps, will conclude the parade.

Other festivities, such as music by Paper Airplanes and Muffin Men, food and drink, face painting, peddle cars, and more, will run from 7-9 p.m. Lakewood Ranch Community Activities Corp. will have paper and pen for individuals to write letters thanking troops for their service.

The local Veterans of Foreign Wars chapter also will be distributing Buddy Poppies and accepting donations to assist local veterans in need.

Individuals wishing to donate items such as beef jerky to troops can turn them in at a 40-foot truck on site or at locations throughout the community during the week (see box).

Breiner and Lakewood Ranch resident Gene Sweeney started the Memorial Day parade on Lakewood Ranch Main Street in 2009 after Breiner and his family visited Busch Gardens and passed the Salute to Heroes Boulevard.

Breiner realized he was spending a day with his family while soldiers overseas were fighting for his freedom and quickly joined forces with Sweeney and Manasota Operation Troop Support, the organization shipping goods to soldiers, to organize the event. This year, Lakewood Ranch Community Activities and the merchants on Main Street also have joined in on the effort.

“Hopefully, each year we’ll make it bigger and better,” Breiner said.

Tribute to Heroes Memorial Day Parade
WHEN: 6 p.m., May 29
WHERE: Lakewood Ranch Main Street
DETAILS: Parade starts at 6 p.m. and concludes with a brief ceremony; festivities will start around 7 p.m., with live music by Paper Airplanes and Muffin Men, beer and barbecue, face painting, a fire truck, balloons and more.
BENEFITS: Manasota Operation Troop Support
DONATIONS: Event-goers are asked to bring items (see below) that will be sent overseas in care packages to active military. A truck will be on site to collect donations. Individuals also can drop-off donations to the locations listed.
INFO: www.lwrmainstreet.com

Donation list:
Cliff Bars, beef jerky, Slim Jims, summer sausage, peanuts, power bars, roasted peanuts, healthy nut mix, cashews, pistachios, individual propel powder packs, individual Gatorade power packs, vitamins, animal crackers, batteries, triple-edge razors, white socks, canned pasta, soups and stews with pop tops, freezer-grade Ziploc bags, flash drives and icy hot patches
* Individual-sized packages

Drop-off locations:

LWR Community Activities Corp.
Summerfield Park Information Center
6310 Lakewood Ranch Blvd.
757-1530
 
Ed’s Tavern
6310 10719 Rodeo Drive
907-0400

Florida Bank
3704 84th Ave. Circle E.
556-5360
 
Manasota Operation Troop Support
4301 32nd St. W.,
Suite C-20
782-0748
 
Starbucks
8155 Lakewood Main Street
373-1970


Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].