ANNA MARIA ISLAND – The Anna Maria Island Privateers’ Fourth of July Parade originally scheduled for Sunday, July 4 will now take place Saturday, July 3 instead.
The schedule change was requested by Pastor Ed Moss and other leaders from the CrossPointe Fellowship church in Anna Maria.
The July 3 parade will begin at Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach at 10 a.m., proceed through Holmes Beach and end near City Pier Park in Anna Maria.
On Thursday, June 10, the Anna Maria City Commission approved an amended special event that reflects the date change. The Holmes Beach Commission recently took similar action and the Bradenton Beach Commission is expected to do so on Thursday, June 17.
Church letter
Thursday’s discussion was prompted by a letter Moss sent Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy and all five Anna Maria commissioners on Monday, June 7. The letter was sent on behalf of Moss and other CrossPointe Fellowship church leaders.
“Because the Privateers celebrate and honor our country’s freedoms and independence for all Americans, we have elected to change the July 4th Parade to July 3rd to allow Island church parishioners and followers of Christ to attend Sunday morning services without any disruption. We apologize if this change causes any further inconvenience but we believe in freedom for everyone in this Island community that we love so much.” – Privateers’ statement
“We assume the issuing of a parade permit for a Sunday morning was an oversight. Please rectify this action by changing the permit to Saturday morning, July 3rd, or Sunday afternoon, July 4th. We have asked the Privateers to request this change. We have a good relationship with the Privateers and appreciate their community involvement,” the letter said.
The Privateers store their “Skullywag” parade and event vessel in the CrossPointe Fellowship parking lot.
“As leaders, we should encourage and protect our country’s long-standing tradition of worship, discipleship and church fellowship on Sunday mornings and do nothing to distract from it. A Sunday morning parade would be viewed by some as highly disrespectful. In and around 10 a.m. Sunday, citizens need the roads to access their churches,” Moss’s letter said.
Commission discussion
When addressing the commission, Privateers’ president and parade chairperson Kim Boyd said this was the first Fourth of July to fall on Sunday since she became a Privateer four years ago.
“I can assure you this parade was not scheduled on July Fourth to show disrespect or be malicious in any way to anyone in this community. The Fourth of July means a lot to me, to the Privateers, as well as many Island residents and lovers of this Island – as well as Americans everywhere for the simple yet profound reason of celebrating our freedom and independence,” Boyd said.
“Another freedom we, as Americans, enjoy is the right to worship. It was brought to my attention that our parade on July Fourth would interfere with that freedom and the Island church services and possibly keep parishioners from being able to get to their church because of traffic disruptions. I besiege you to grant the Privateers the permit change and allow us to celebrate our freedom and independence with this community we love so much on Saturday, July 3rd,” Boyd said.
“This is good with all three cities. I think it’s good with you all. I think it’s good with everybody,” Moss told the commission.
Boyd noted the date change could lead to higher law enforcement costs for the Privateers. Boyd said the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputies who agreed to escort the July 4 parade on an off-duty basis are not available on July 3. She said Florida Highway Patrol troopers are available that day, but their services would cost approximately $720, which is about double what the sheriff’s deputies would cost.
Boyd said Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer volunteered to escort the parade through all three cities. Murphy noted that unlike sheriff’s deputies and Florida Highway Patrol troopers, Tokajer doesn’t have law enforcement jurisdiction in Anna Maria. Murphy said he would check on that with the city attorney. He recommended commission approval of a modified special event permit, with the caveat that some type of bona fide professional law enforcement personnel accompany the parade.
On Friday, Murphy said the law enforcement will have to be provided by the Sheriff’s Office or the Florida Highway Patrol.
Commissioner Jon Crane said the next time the Fourth of July falls on a Sunday he would like the parade held later that day: “I’d like to see it at a different time of day so people can pray and then salute the flag on July Fourth.”
Commissioner Joe Muscatello asked if the parade could be held on Monday, July 5. Boyd said it could not because she and several other Privateers have to work that day.
Commissioner Mark Short noted Saturday is check-in and check-out day for most of the Island’s vacation rentals – which may also impact some businesses’ ability to participate in the parade.
Matthew Grunfeld, Rector of the Church of The Annunciation in Holmes Beach, said, “I wish to express my thanks to the city officials here in Anna Maria, the city officials in the other cities and the Privateers for making this amendment to the parade time.”
Commission Chair Carol Carter said she didn’t realize the Fourth of July was on a Sunday when the commission initially approved the Privateers’ special event permit. The commission unanimously supported the requested date change.
– Jason Schaffer contributed to this report.
