Military & Motorcycles July 14, 2012
Happy Birthday America
Palmetto Style
After the threat from what appeared to be a strong storm approaching the Cities of Palmetto and Bradenton on the 4th of July the Concert in Sutton Park and the fireworks display we were spared. All I can say is, ‘People–prayers do work!’
After receiving a substantial amount of rain at the house earlier in the afternoon my wife decided she wasn’t going to participate in the celebration in Palmetto. Maybe the real reason was because I was going to ride my motorcycle downtown and not take the truck.
Once I was at Sutton Park I was able to survey the newly constructed park as well as those who were attendance.
Surprisingly not a drop of rain fell to earth in and around Sutton Park or the Green Bridge.
As I walked through the throngs of event goers I was pleasantly surprised that we as a society can still get that many people together and not have some type of incident. The crowd was festive, orderly and was there for the same reasons. It was America’s Birthday and they wanted to celebrate 236 years of freedom provided by an untold number of military warriors who have served, some dying for the right to be free and an American. Secondly was to see and hear Three Dog Night who still can throw out some great musical licks, lyrics and harmonies.
Early on as I was standing talking with several of the Palmetto Police Officers who were present we were estimating the crowd at between 5 and 6,000, as the evening went on the crowd almost doubled.
The City of Palmetto didn’t quite get the park 100% completed before the big day. But no one really noticed because it looked so nice and fresh.
As I walked through the crowd I noticed how many veterans were present and I was able to speak to numerous folks who ‘Wrote the check that thankfully was never cashed, up and including dying for OUR country.’
I salute you ladies and gentlemen and say thanks for your service to the greatest country on the face of the planet.
With a little readjustment we can again regain the top position. But that will come in the near future.
As a sat and ate a chili dog, chips and drinking an RC Cola with my feet propped up on my ice chest on my motorcycle trailer behind the bandstand listening to the music I started to smile and thanked God I was born and raised in this great county.
For those of you who may want to change the principals which America was founded on I invite you to do it somewhere else other than here.
I would like to give kudos to Mayor Bryant and the City of Palmetto employees for a job well done.
If you would like to contact me please do so at PGRTerry@gmail.com and remember “It’s not about the war, it’s about the warriors.” God Bless America and those who serve in uniform.
Terry Longpre