Community celebrates Independence Day through Legacy of Valor partner events

The Legacy of Valor media campaign, Freedom. Pass It On., launched this past weekend and was received with open arms and enthusiasm from the community as we celebrated Independence Day. Many Legacy of Valor community partners hosted patriotic events and festivities throughout the holiday weekend, sharing how Southwest Florida has come together to honor veterans and their families for the next year and beyond.

The patriotic events kicked off with Legacy of Valor partner the Bradenton Marauders’ Independence Day Game at McKechnie Field on July 2. Before the game, the Marauders honored all veterans with a special ceremony and featured local World War II veterans.

Donations, which exceeded $2,000, were collected through a jersey auction to benefit Honor Flight of West Central Florida. Honor Flight provides all-expenses-paid trips for WWII veterans to Washington D.C., providing veterans an opportunity to visit the memorials honoring their courage and service. The evening was rounded out with a fireworks show and concert by American country music artist David Nail.

On July 4, The Jacobites Pipe & Drum Band, The First Brass and Florida Brass performed an outdoor concert, featuring a medley of patriotic music leading up to the Sarasota bay front fireworks show. Despite the occasional passing rain cloud, the show kept the crowds entertained as they awaited the fireworks to begin. In partnership with Cell Phones for Soldiers, a national nonprofit dedicated to providing cost-free communications services to active duty military and veterans, cell phones were collected at the concert to provide troops with free calls home.

On Friday evening, July 5, the patriotism and community support of our veterans continued as three local veterans featured  in the Freedom. Pass It On. campaign – Chris Davis, Linda Gould and Greg Para – participated in the Suncoast Super Boat Grand Prix Parade down Main Street in Sarasota. The three energetically walked in uniform in the parade, sharing high fives and smiles with spectators.

Rounding out the week’s events, The Legacy of Valor team continued to spread the word about the campaign and Patriot Plaza throughout the community at Power Boats by The Bay on Saturday, July 6. The Patriot Plaza model was on display for the public to view and inquire about.

Keep an eye out for upcoming Legacy of Valor events by frequently visiting www.Freedom.PassItOn.org. The events and ways to get involved throughout the upcoming year feature our many partner organizations -- all bringing the community together to honor our veterans, inspire patriotism and embrace freedom. Leave us a comment about how you plan to get involved through your time, talent or treasure!

About Legacy of Valor

Legacy of Valor is a campaign that rallies our community to honor veterans, inspire patriotism and pass freedom on to others. A mosaic of community-driven partnerships will educate and focus the community to use time, talent and treasure to recognize the service and sacrifice of all veterans and their families. For more information, please visit FreedomPassItOn.org.