ANNA MARIA – More than 500 people gathered Monday morning at City Pier Park for a Memorial Day remembrance of the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Navy veteran Carl Pearman and his wife, Irene, attend the Memorial Day commemoration each year.
“I’m a proud Navy veteran,” Carl said. “I served from the late 1950s between the Korean War and Vietnam. We come every year. It’s important to honor these people.”
The annual ceremony, replete with tradition and patriotic music, was coupled with a recognition of the centennial anniversary of the City of Anna Maria.
Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy welcomed the crowd and introduced officials from the City of Anna Maria and Holmes Beach who were in attendance, including former Holmes Beach Mayor Bob Johnson and his wife, Denise, and former Manatee County Commissioner Carol Whitmore.
Additional dignitaries introduced by Murphy were Commissioners Mark Short, Robert Kingan, Jon Crane and Deanie Sebring, as well as Manatee County School Board Chair Dave “Watchdog” Miner and former Commissioner Dale Woodland, who Murphy said was instrumental in purchasing City Pier Park.
Bishop Michael Garrison of the Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida gave the invocation.
“We gather today to remember and give thanks to those who made the ultimate sacrifice,” Garrison said. “This is not just the first day of the summer season, but a painful remembrance for those who lost family members.”
A U.S. Marine Corps Honor Guard presented the colors in front of the stage and an Anna Maria Island Concert Chorus and Orchestra (AMICCO) trumpeter played Taps followed by the orchestra playing the National Anthem.
Pearman was one of dozens of veterans who were called to the front of the stage by their branch of service and given flags and applause for their service.
Spouses and significant others who lost loved ones in the military service were presented with yellow roses by City of Anna Maria staff and volunteers.
Following a performance of patriotic music by AMICCO, who wrapped up with God Bless America, attendees were invited to sing along. The orchestra and chorus were conducted by Maestro Leonard Murphy.
Originally referred to as Decoration Day, the holiday originated following the Civil War and became a federal holiday in 1971 in remembrance of all who died in service to the U.S.
100th anniversary
Murphy introduced the 100th Anniversary celebration of Anna Maria at the close of the Memorial Day ceremony.
“One hundred years ago on what was a little sandspit, our city was founded,” Murphy said, noting the first mayor of the city was Mitch Davis.
“Resiliency is the legacy of this community we should be protecting it,” Murphy said to applause.
A history of Anna Maria was presented by Master of Ceremonies Tom Aposporos.
Aposporos, a longtime Anna Maria resident, read anecdotes from 1923 newspaper articles.
“In 1923, the local paper said the citizens of Anna Maria felt things weren’t being done fast enough,” he said. “A committee of interested parties met at the next town meeting.”
Aposporos read part of a poem by two-time city commissioner Frances Livingston.
“Depending on where people are from, they pronounce the name of our city differently,” he said. “I’ve heard Anna Mariar and Anna Maria with a long ‘I’. So here is a poem about that.”
“ ‘The sunshine is hot, life is much freer, for all the tourists of Anna Maria’,” he quoted from the poem, adding, “No matter what you call it, we’re just lucky to be here.”
