Sponsors save Veterans Day parade

Money troubles threatened to sideline the annual event. Then some heavy hitters got involved.

By SHANNON BREEN

© St. Petersburg Times,
published October 28, 2001

TAMPA -- Thanks to the efforts of New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, the only parade honoring veterans in Tampa will be held this year after all.

In August, the Greater Town 'N Country Chamber of Commerce said financial troubles meant the Veterans Day parade it sponsored every year for the past decade would have to be canceled.

But Steinbrenner read about the troubles in the Tampa Tribune, and wrote a letter to the newspaper expressing his outrage and rallying support.

"I am personally embarrassed that the one parade in this area that remains to honor our veterans should have to beg for assistance and support just to continue."

Thursday, officials from a committee formed at Steinbrenner's urging to save the parade held a news conference at Legends Field to announce the parade on Hanley Road will be Nov. 10 this year and will be bigger than ever.

There will be 19 floats and 11 marching bands, including the Marine Marching Band from Parris Island, S.C. The national anthem will be followed by a flyover of F-15s from Tyndall Air Force Base. The parade last year had 20 units in all.

Underwriting the parade are more than a dozen corporate sponsors, including the Tampa Tribune, the Yankees and Bill Currie Ford.

"This parade almost did not happen, had it not been for Mr. Steinbrenner . . . the outpouring of support was amazing," said Rock Roque, the committee chairman.

F.E. "Spike" Charles, 59, who served in the Air Force for 25 years and during the Vietnam War, has participated in the parade for the past few years.

He thinks the country has never been more united than it has since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

"The patriotism that I see now in this country is unprecedented . . .. I just hope it lasts," he said.

Money troubles threatened to sideline the annual event. Then some heavy hitters got involved.

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