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Lutz Salutes America will be a night of music and prayer in honor of rescue workers and terrorist attack victims.

By MARY ELMORE

© St. Petersburg Times,
published October 5, 2001

LUTZ -- The ever-patriotic community of Lutz will honor its rescue workers while remembering the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Organizers of Saturday's Lutz Salutes America also hope to raise money through a concert that will combine music and prayer.

The event has brought together numerous area organizations including businesses, churches, veterans' groups, firefighters, county officials, sheriff's deputies, schools and musicians.

Approximately 30 children, kindergarten through fourth grade, from the after-school program at Nye Recreation Center have been busy coloring flags and eagles to decorate the Lutz Community Center.

Children from the third, fourth and fifth grades at Lutz Elementary School made 1,000 flags and will pass them out at the concert while the 4'L Lutz-Land O'Lakes Lions Club collects donations for families of the victims.

The patriotic evening will begin with the North Tampa Cadet Squadron Civil Air Patrol and Boy Scout Troop 12 as they present the colors. Laurie Hofschneider, a Hillsborough sheriff's community deputy based in southern Lutz, will sing the national anthem and The Statue of Liberty, and will give a tribute to Hillsborough County law enforcement. Tims Memorial Presbyterian Church will then lead with an opening prayer.

Hillsborough County Administrator Dan Kleman will discuss emergency preparedness, and Lutz Fire Chief Ed Davis will read a fireman's prayer and tribute to firefighters.

Some of the musical entertainment will be provided by the Moonlight Serenade Singers. This eight-member band, which specializes in music from the '40s, '50s and '60s, will sing Sentimental Journey Through America.

Also performing is the Sunshine Brass Band, which has been together for 18 years and has members from all over the Tampa Bay area. The band will accompany Adrianne Schmidt from the Lutz/Land O'Lakes Women's Club as she sings God Bless America.

Other performances include the Maniscalco Elementary School, Tims Memorial Presbyterian Church Folk Group, First United Methodist Church and St. Mary Catholic Church, joined by the Color Guard and the VFW.

The evening will end with a candlelight prayer led by the Rev. Bob Morris from St. Mary Catholic Church. Please bring your family, friends, chairs, blankets and especially a candle to demonstrate this union.

The event is sponsored by the Lutz Civic Association, Hillsborough County Parks Department, Office of Neighborhood Relations and the Tampa Tribune. Food and beverages are available for purchase at the Lutz Community Center.

If you go

Lutz Salutes America is from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday at the Train Depot, Highway 41 and Lutz Lake Fern Road. For information, call (813) 948-8998.

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