ANNA MARIA – Colder than usual weather didn’t chill the appreciation, attendance and enthusiasm for the city of Anna Maria’s Old Soldiers & Sailors Veterans Day parade and the post-parade veterans’ recognition ceremony that followed at City Pier Park.
On Nov. 11, spectators of all ages gathered along Pine Avenue to watch the parade. Near City Pier Park, visiting western Michigan residents Ann Hayward, Brenda Manchester and Jill McIntyre shared a blanket while waiting for the parade to begin.
In front of Roser Church, young siblings Maggie, Charli and Millie were bundled up in blankets waiting to see friends and family members march by with the Manatee High School Junior ROTC.
The skies were clear and sunny, the temperature was 48 degrees and a 12 mph northeast wind blew as the procession from city hall to City Pier Park began, with a quartet of Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputies on motorcycles leading the way and performing some riding maneuvers as they went.
The deputies were followed by the Lakewood Ranch High School marching band that would also perform at the ceremony in the park. The Bayshore High School marching band, the Braden River High School band and the Southeast High School Marching ‘Noles also marched in the parade.
Anna Maria Mayor Mark Short and city commissioners Chris Arendt and Kathy Morgan-Johnson rode together in a city-owned low-speed vehicle Jeep driven by Code Enforcement Manager Dave DeZutter.
Because last year’s parade was canceled due to Hurricanes Helene and Milton, this year’s parade featured three grand marshals: Army veteran John Fara, Army veteran and former Anna Maria mayor Dan Murphy and Duncan Real Estate owner Darcie Duncan.
Fara was supposed to serve as last year’s grand marshal and he traveled the parade route in a city-owned Jeep driven by Code Enforcement Officer Tom Collins. Murphy and Duncan are the city’s reigning co-citizens of the year. Accompanied by Murphy’s wife, Barbara, they traveled the parade route in the code enforcement department truck driven by City Clerk Amber LaRowe.
Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie rode in a police vehicle driven by a Bradenton Beach Police officer and Holmes Beach Police Chief and Army veteran Bill Tokajer drove a police department ATV down the parade route. A privately-owned green Jeep transported another group of veterans down Pine Avenue.
Army veteran and Holmes Beach Walgreens employee Lance Roy walked the parade route, as did a group of youngsters and employees from The Center of Anna Maria Island, a group representing the Girl Scouts of Gulf Coast Florida and four members of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders Alumni.
The parade vehicles included the sheriff’s office airboat, a West Manatee Fire Rescue fire engine and a Waste Management truck. Holmes Beach-based SeaBreeze Vacation entered two vehicles in the parade and three mounted sheriff’s deputies on horses brought up the rear of the parade.
After the parade, the Lakewood Ranch High School band members took their seats in a large tent that stood where the recently removed Anna Maria Post Office trailer stood for several months after the hurricanes. Many parade attendees and veterans took their seats under the City Pier Park shade sail structure.
Before presiding over his first Veterans Day ceremony, Mayor Short said of the parade: “It was a little chilly, but the turnout was great for this very special occasion.”
The city-hosted Veterans Day parade and recognition ceremony began several years ago, during Murphy’s 10-year tenure as mayor.
“Putting on an event like this is a big responsibility and a lot of hard work,” Murphy said before the ceremony began. “Mark and his staff have done a truly remarkable job. I’m so pleased that they’re carrying on this tradition that has become part of the fiber of the city of Anna Maria.”
Accompanied by his wife, Geraldine, Col. Fernand Verrier said he first served in the Vietnam War from 1962-65 stationed in San Diego as a member of the Navy. He then went to college, earned a degree, enlisted in the Army as a commissioned officer and later retired as a colonel. During his time in the military, he served in Panama, the first Gulf War, Bosnia and at the U.S. Embassy in Yemen.
After Short’s opening remarks, Roser Memorial Community Church Senior Pastor Dirk Rodgers offered the invocation.
“May we treasure this freedom. May we learn to love, respect and support one another in honor of their service,” Rodgers said in appreciation of those who serve and served their country.
The Manatee High School Junior ROTC Color Guard presented the colors, accompanied by Anna Maria Island Concert Chorus & Orchestra drummer Scott Blum.
Directed by Dr. John Wilkerson, the seated marching band performed “The Star-Spangled Banner;” followed by the children from The Center leading the recital of the Pledge of Allegiance.
The mayor introduced the three grand marshals and recognized the elected officials in attendance. He then called forward the spouses and significant others of those who served in the military and city staff members presented each of them with a yellow rose.
The mayor then called forward the veterans according to the military branch in which they served: Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard – and Anna Maria Executive Assistant Barbara Jeffries’ 8-year-old son, Jackson, presented each veteran with a commemorative medal.
After being recognized as the only Coast Guard veteran in attendance, Paul Schloesser said, “This is my ninth year. I love it.”
Short also recognized the U.S. Space Force and the Allied/NATO Forces that had no veteran representatives on hand.
“Thank you again to all our veterans. We appreciate your service and everything you did for us and this country,” the mayor said.
The band then played a medley of military theme songs and the seated veterans were asked to stand to be recognized one more time while their branch’s song played. Wilkerson then called the drumline forward to lead the band through a few more musical numbers that included an instrumental version of Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train.”
Short then called forward and recognized the many city staff members who helped organize and host the Veterans Day events.
“This event could not have been done without everybody you see standing beside me. Thank you to our city staff for yet another successful Veterans Day event,” Short said.
The mayor also thanked the sheriff’s office and everyone else who assisted with the parade and the recognition ceremony.
After the ceremony, Short said, “It was a great ceremony. It was nice to recognize our veterans that are so important to all of us.”
Spectators of all ages lined the Pine Avenue parade route. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
Code Enforcement Officer Steve Cooke and Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Anna Maria Unit leader Sgt. Brett Getman assisted with street closures and traffic control. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
The Lakewood Ranch High School marching band marched down Pine Avenue in route to City Pier Park. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
The ROTC color guard led the Manatee High School Jr. ROTC members down the parade route. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
Mayor John Chappie represented the city of Bradenton Beach. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
Police Chief Bill Tokajer, an Army veteran, represented the city of Holmes Beach. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
These young women led the Bayshore High School band down the parade route. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
The Bayshore High School band marched in the parade. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
This Vietnam War veteran rode with Anna Maria General Manager and Marine Corps veteran Dean Jones. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
This walking group represented The Center of Anna Maria Island. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
The Braden River High School band marched in the parade. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
The Braden River High School band marched to the beat of its drummers. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
Army veteran Lance Roy walked in the parade. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
The Girl Scouts of Gulf Coast Florida participated in the parade. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
These members of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers cheerleaders’ alumni marched in the parade. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
The Southeast High School band marched in the parade. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
The Sheriff’s Office brought an airboat to the parade. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
Waste Pro and West Manatee Fire and Rescue participated in the parade. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
These Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputies rode horses in the parade. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
SeaBreeze Vacation participated in the parade. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
This Jeep transported veterans down Pine Avenue. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
Army veteran and former mayor Dan Murphy attended the ceremony with his wife, Barbara. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
Pastor Dirk Rodgers gave the invocation during the Veterans Day ceremony. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
The spouses and significant others of veterans received yellow roses. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
The Manatee High School Jr. ROTC color guard presented the colors during the ceremony. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
These two men served in the Air Force. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
Several Navy veterans attended the Veterans Day ceremony. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
The Marine Corps veterans received commemorative medals from young Jackson Jeffries. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
Army and Navy veteran Col. Fernand Verrier shook hands with Mayor Mark Short. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
Paul Schloesser served in the Coast Guard. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
The Lakewood Ranch High School Marching band drumline showed off their percussive skills. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
Mayor Mark Short stood with city staff members during the band’s musical performance. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
Anna Maria Commissioner Gary McMullen attended the ceremony with his wife, Pam. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
Code Enforcement Manager Dave DeZutter and Code Enforcement Officer Tom Collins attended the ceremony after driving city vehicles in the parade. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
Anna Maria Administrative Assistant Iris Mavenyengwas, Executive Assistant Barbara Jeffries and volunteer Jackson Jeffries assisted with the Veterans Day ceremony. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
Anna Maria General Manager Dean Jones served in the Marine Corps. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
Bob and Debbie Haynes enjoyed the ceremony and the parade. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
