Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Veterans to hear tunes of tribute

Highlighting Veterans Appreciation Week, which starts Oct. 31, is a concert featuring Big Band music by local artists.

By JORGE SANCHEZ
Published October 17, 2005

CRYSTAL RIVER - A musical concert featuring a Big Band singer and an Andrews Sisters tribute act will highlight the annual veterans appreciation concert scheduled for Rock Crusher Canyon pavilion.

The concert is the highlight of the 13th annual Veterans Appreciation Week, which begins Oct. 31. This year's theme is "Honoring Our National Guard and Reserves ... Modern Day Minutemen."

The Veterans Appreciation Show will be from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Nov. 6 at Rock Crusher Canyon pavilion on Rock Crusher Road between Lecanto and Crystal River. The pavilion is a semienclosed facility with restaurant seating for 1,500 and a cash bar.

The concert will feature a performance by the Citrus Community Band, along with a featured singer. Other local singers, including a U.S. Air Force Vietnam veteran, are also scheduled to entertain.

Amy Virgo, talent coordinator for the event, said the show is intended as a musical salute to veterans, much as USO shows led by Bob Hope did for the troops overseas.

The show will open with a military tribute from the Citrus Community Band, which will perform the national anthem and a medley of the theme songs of each military branch, Virgo said.

After that, the band will be joined by vocalist Marcia Muncaster for a medley of Big Band songs.

Other entertainers include Circle of Sound, which is an Andrews Sisters tribute group, and local singers Paul Stevio and Air Force veteran Anthony Benoit.

General admission is $10; veterans admitted free. VIP seating is $25, which includes a lunch buffet. Doors open for VIP seating at 11:30 a.m., general admission at 12:30 p.m.

The purpose of this year's event is to raise funds for a Citrus County Veterans Transitional Housing Project, Virgo said, and $35,000 must be raised initially for the grant process.

The rehearsal for show participation will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Rock Crusher Canyon pavilion. Entertainers and volunteers are welcome to join the production; bring ideas for music, talent, scenes, script and costumes, Virgo said.

Other Veterans Appreciation Week events:

Veterans in the Classroom, Oct. 31 to Nov. 10.

Veterans Fair, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 5 at the Crystal River Mall. The opening ceremony will be at 9:45 a.m. at the mall's main entrance.

--Blinded Veterans Association Walkathon, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 5, Crystal River High School.

--Veterans Flea Market, 7 a.m. to noon Nov. 9, Stokes Flea Market, State Road 44, Crystal River.

--Veterans Program, 2 p.m. Nov. 10, Inverness Primary School cafeteria.

--Veterans Day Parade, 10 a.m. Nov. 11, Inverness.

--Veterans Day Memorial Service, after the parade Nov. 11, Old Courthouse Heritage Museum, Inverness.

--Veterans Day Luncheon, noon Nov. 11, VFW Post 4337, 906 State Road 44 E, Inverness.

--Veterans Fish Fry, 5 to 7 p.m. Nov. 11, American Legion Post 155, 6585 Gulf to Lake Highway, Crystal River.

--Military Ball, Marine Corps League Citrus Detachment 819, 6 p.m. Nov. 12, West Citrus Elks, 7890 W Grover Cleveland Blvd., Homosassa.

--Massing of the Colors, 3 p.m. Nov. 13, Crystal River United Methodist Church, 4801 N Citrus Ave., Crystal River.

[Last modified October 17, 2005, 01:18:14]