Memorial parade rolls onto Main

LAKEWOOD RANCH — East County residents and their friends are invited to honor fallen military heroes and veterans during a special celebration on Lakewood Ranch Main Street.

The annual Tribute to Heroes Memorial Day Parade will be held from 6-9 p.m. May 27, at Lakewood Ranch Main Street. Festivities will start at 5 p.m. with speeches and acknowledgements from the stage, and the 6 p.m. parade will conclude with the playing of taps and a special dove release.

Legendary ESPN basketball commentator Dick Vitale will serve as grand marshal for this year’s parade.
“It’s important to support the ongoing efforts of our soldiers overseas and honor hour fallen heroes,” said Lakewood Ranch Community Activities Corp. Director Lori Basilone, who is helping organize the event. “This is the fourth year of this parade. It has grown. We’re looking to have close to three dozen organizations participate.”

Parade-day festivities will include live music, face painting, a fire truck and balloons. Lakewood Ranch children also are encouraged to participate in Lakewood Ranch Community Activities’ Patriotic Bike Contest, for which the most patriotically decorated bicycle, scooter or wagon will be awarded prizes before riding in the parade.

At the event, Manasota Operation Troop Support, better known as M.O.T.S., will be on site collecting donations of non-perishable food and toiletry items to be sent to troops oversees, as well as letters to soldiers. Residents also can donate items at several locations throughout the East County (see below). M.O.T.S. also will have representatives on site from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 19, at the Lakewood Walk Publix, 11205 S.R. 70 E., to collect monetary donations for the organization’s efforts.

Ed’s Tavern owner John Breiner, who started the parade with Lakewood Ranch resident Gene Sweeney, said he already is excited to see this year’s parade come to life.

“It’s just grown by leaps and bounds,” Breiner said of the event. “Every time this time of year comes around I get (excited). It’s amazing what a community can do when they (work) together).”

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].

IF YOU GO
Tribute to Heroes Memorial Day Parade
WHEN: 6 to 9 p.m. May 27
WHERE: Lakewood Ranch Main Street
WEBSITE: lwrcac.com

DONATION SITES
Donations, including personal hygiene products, sunscreen, duct tape, vitamins and non-perishable food items, such as sunscreen, beef jerky, canned soups with a pop-off lid, powdered drink mixes, power bars, tuna in cans, cookies and crackers, nuts and other non-perishable items, can be dropped off at the following locations:

LWR Community Activities Corp.
6310 Lakewood Ranch Blvd.; 757-1530

Ed’s Tavern
6310 10719 Rodeo Drive;
907-0400

Town Hall
8175 Lakewood Ranch Blvd.; 907-0202

Manasota Operation Troop Support
4301 32nd St. W., Suite C-20; 782-0748

Fish Hole
10725 Lakewood Main St.;
907-9450

Starbucks
8155 Lakewood Main St.;
373-1970