CLEARWATER - To start off Veterans Week, the Second Annual Clearwater Veterans Appreciation Day (CVAD) will take place Saturday, November 4, from11 a.m. - 2 p. m., at the Long Center, 1501 North Belcher Road, about one mile north of Drew St.
The idea of CVAD is to provide a day to inform the community just who veterans are. Since the draft was abolished in 1975 many people do not have veterans in their families and need to know about them and active-duty personnel in deference to what the national media presents them to be. This is especially true for the children so Veterans/Active-Duty personnel can teach them they are their neighbors and work/own businesses in their community.
Keynote speakers will be Congressman Bill Young and his wife Beverly.
Guest speaker will be Command Sergeant Major Cynthia Pritchett who will talk about her 33 years in the U.S. Army.
There'll be Honor Guards from various veteran service organizations, local Military Reserve Units, Police Organizations and High School Junior ROTCs (Reserve Officer Training Corps)., and the Clearwater High School Silent Drill Teams. If you haven't seen these award winning teams perform, it is worthwhile attending just to see them.
There will be a 65-piece band and the St. Petersburg Community Band providing entertainment. Also, there will be the Clearwater SWAT teams and K-9 dogs performing, military vehicles to examine and for the children to play on, and much, much more.
The public is invited to celebrate our Veterans, Active Duty Personnel, and our community.