ANNA MARIA – Military veterans and their spouses and significant others were honored this morning during the city of Anna Maria’s Memorial Day Patriotic Symphony Salute.
Canceled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual Memorial Day observance resumed at City Pier Park after a one-year absence. In addition to honoring veterans, the event featured a performance of patriotic music by the Anna Maria Island Concert Chorus & Orchestra, minus the chorus members.
Holmes Beach resident Whalen Strobhar served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War.
“It means a lot to me, honoring a lot of friends who didn’t come back. We owe them a lot,” he said before the event began.
The ceremonies began with Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy welcoming the visiting elected officials that included state Sen. Jim Boyd, Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge, all five members of the Anna Maria City Commission and Holmes Beach Commissioner Carol Soustek.
Bishop Michael Garrison, of the Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida, gave the invocation.
“Give us grace to honor all those who served,” he said during his prayer.
“Cover them with your sheltering wings and keep them safe from harm,” he said of those currently serving in the military.
After the invocation, the Marine Corps Color Guard marched from the Two Scoops parking lot to the City Pier Park flagpoles to present the colors, followed by orchestra member and trumpeter Tim Eaton performing “Taps.” Anna Maria residents and military veterans Sharon Wiesnewski and Melissa Anderson then laid a memorial wreath at the base of the flagpoles.
Murphy then recognized the spouses and significant others of those who served their country and asked them to come forward.
“We thank you all very much for your service to the country,” Murphy said.
He then called up the attending veterans in order of the branch in which they served, with the orchestra performing each branch’s theme song as they assembled in the following order: Marine Corps, Navy, Army, Air Force and Coast Guard. As they arrived near the podium, each veteran was presented with a city medal and small flag representing the branch in which they served.
“We thank you for your service and we’re proud you’re here with us today,” Murphy said.
Performing for the first time since the pandemic struck, and led by Navy veteran and conductor Leonard Murphy, the orchestra began its performance with “The Star-Spangled Banner.” They then performed John Philip Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever” and several other patriotic favorites.
When asked about the event, Murphy said, “I’m real pleased with the turnout. It’s beyond my expectations. Our city staff has done an excellent job preparing for this event. The city owes them a great deal of thanks for what they’ve done.”
Murphy said the city provided 450 seats under and around the City Pier Park shade sail and several attendees brought their own chairs.
Murphy also thanked the volunteer members of the Love AMI community task force for handing out small American flags during the event.
City Commission Chair and Love AMI member Carol Carter said, “I’m thrilled with the number of people who turned out for our Memorial Day Salute. It’s great to see the community back together again.”
