TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Why Wait For Flag Day?

ADVERTISEMENT

By ANGELA DELGADO

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 28, 2008

TOWN 'N COUNTRY - Tom Vann wants to show the community that there are proud Americans out there who love and respect their country and their flag.

That's why he has organized the annual Tampa Scottish Rite Patriotic Flag Day, to take place June 9 at the Tampa Scottish Rite Masonic Center, 5500 Memorial Highway.

Though Flag Day always falls on June 14, which is a Saturday this year, Vann planned the event for June 9 because he believes he will get a greater turnout, with fewer people away on vacation.

Vann promised an event bigger than the last.

"It's going to be fantastic," he said. "We're really working hard."

Flag waving in front of the center will start the day's festivities at 4 p.m. A blood drive will also start at 4, with a free barbecue dinner following at 4:30. Vann said he expects about 1,100 people to attend the barbeque dinner, prepared on site.

Vann raises the money from members and friends to pay for the entire function, he said. He starts collecting during the previous year's event. Folks will be cooking up meat, chicken and ribs, as well as preparing coleslaw, Texas toast and tea, Vann said.

From 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Debby Bacon will entertain the crowd before the patriotic program begins at 6:45. The program will begin with the reading of the names of 439 local Vietnam veterans who lost their lives during the war.

"After Vietnam, vets came home and they didn't get the normal recognition that a group of soldiers receive when they come back from war," Vann said. "So we're going to be honoring those veterans."

"The freedoms you and I enjoy every day are because of those Vietnam veterans and other veterans of many wars," Vann said.

Last year's festivities honored prisoners of war from all the wars.

The Bayshore Patriots, Lutz Patriots, American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars will be in attendance, as will the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association of Florida, which will show a helicopter flown during the war. The Heralds of Harmony, who practice at the Scottish Rite center, will perform several patriotic tunes, Vann said.

Although this year's event hasn't taken place, Vann said he is already thinking about next year's. This is the eighth year Vann has organized the Patriotic Flag Day, which he says is a yearlong project.

Next year's honorees, he said, will be Korean War veterans.

Reporter Angela Delgado can be reached at (813) 865-1501 or adelgado@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT