June News from The Spirit

Celebrating Springfield's Biggest, Best and Brightest

Thanks to everyone who came out in support of the World's Largest Pancake Breakfast. We are happy that everyone was able to leave their umbrella's at home, enjoy the company of their neighbors, and celebrate Nate Costa and the Springfield Thunderbirds. We already have plans for next year's flapjack feast.

Now on to the Spirit of Springfield Golf Classic, Star Spangled Springfield, and most importantly, the dedication of Springfield's September 11^th Monument.

- Judy Matt

President

Dedication of Springfield's September 11th Monument

After a successful campaign to raise $300,000 and the completed renovations to Riverfront Park, Springfield's September 11^th Monument will be dedicated on Wednesday, June 19^th at 7pm. Following greetings by Mayor Domenic Sarno, and remembrances from Springfield Fire Commissioner B. J. Calvi and Springfield Police Acting Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood, the program will be full of pageantry.

The colors will be posted. The National Anthem will be sung. The Pledge of Allegiance will be recited. The fire bell will toll and emergency vehicles will roll out over the Memorial Bridge. The names of the 498 listed on the monument will be read. The program will close with a rifle salute and a flyover by the 104^th Fighter Group from Barnes Air National Guard Base.

As taps is being played, the lights will be lit casting the shadow of the World Trade Center artifact on the bronze wall to create the silhouette of the Twin Towers.

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Golfers Ready to Swing for the Spirit

The course at Franconia Golf Course will be filled with more than 130 golfers participating in the Spirit of Springfield Golf Classic on Friday, June 7^th. The day on the course, sponsored by the Springfield Business Improvement District and Western Mass News, is a fundraiser for the Spirit of Springfield.

The morning will begin with the Mayor's Cup, a friendly putting competition, at 9am. Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno will take on Agawam Mayor William Sapelli, West Springfield Mayor William Reichelt and Chicopee Mayor Richard Kos. At 10am, players will scramble in hopes of bringing back the card with the lowest score.

Community Spirit Sponsors include Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, Gleason Johndrow Landscaping, and The Republican.

Star Spangled Springfield Returns to Riverfront Park

On Thursday, July 4^th, Star Spangled Springfield will be back in Riverfront Park with music, patriotism, and pyrotechnics. Festivities, sponsored by MassMutual, will begin at 6pm with face painting, balloon art, food vendors, and performances by students from Falcetti Music.

At 7pm, Mayor Domenic Sarno and Colonel Peter Green, Wing Commander for the 104^th Fighter Group, will greet the audience and welcome Maxxtone to the stage. The five-member group will perform everything from classics to current hits. There will be plenty of room for dancing.

All eyes will be to the skies at 9:30pm as Fireworks by Grucci's launches pyrotechnics from the Memorial Bridge. They will dance across the skyline to music broadcast on Mix 93.1 FM.

In addition to MassMutual, Star Spangled Springfield is supported by iHeart Media, The Republican, MassLive, WWLP-22News, 90 Meat Outlet, Elegant Affairs, Michael's Party Rentals, Republic Services, H. P. Hood, the City of Springfield and many others.

World's Largest Pancake Breakfast Was a WOW!

There was a great turn out for the 2019 World's Largest Pancake Breakfast, sponsored by MGM Springfield, on Saturday, May 10^th. Main Street was packed with people and pancakes in celebration of Springfield's 383^rd birthday and to honor the Springfield Thunderbirds and team president, Nate Costa. The Springfield Thunderbirds gave out free tickets to anyone wearing team attire.

The Sci-Tech Band brought out hundreds of instruments and musicians to perform. Pellegrini, Seeley, Ryan and Blakesly gave out balloons and spatulas. Health New England had backpacks and water bottles for the crowd. The Massachusetts Army National Guard had giveaways too. The Springfield Fire and Police Departments showed off their equipment as did Gleason Johndrow Landscaping.

There was a lot to do and see between Tower Square and Court Square.

See all the photos!

Behind the Scenes at the Breakfast

Before the 300 volunteers reported to Main Street, many things have already been accomplished.

The Hampden County Sheriff's Department had cooked 990 pounds of Carando Classic Italian bacon that was being reheated by the Tower Square Hotel. Mercy Medical Center mixed 500 gallons of pancake batter donated by Performance Food Service. Paper products were picked up from Baystate Health and Mansfield Paper. Michael's Party Rental set up tents and tables on Main Street.

For the fifth year, Gleason Johndrow Landscaping loaded 100 buckets of batter in to a refrigerator truck, moved H. P. Hoods milk, juice and creamer from truck to truck including a beer trailer from Williams Distributing, distributed paper products and Little Bites to the beverage stations. They picked up the coffee from the Sheraton Springfield, set up hundreds of chairs, managed the pancake batter as the supply dwindle, and so much more.

The World's Largest Pancake Breakfast is a team effort from the first donation to the last bit of trash picked up by the Springfield Business Improvement District, placed in a trash box from Republic Services and then in to a truck from the Springfield Department of Public Works.

Thanks to MGM Springfield and everyone who made it pancake party on May 10^th!

NEWS FROM OUR NEIGHBOR

The Springfield Sheraton Monarch Place will treat guests to Seuss-inspired hors d'oeuvres, cocktails and live music and the Cat in the Hat and Things 1 & 2 will be stopping by to create a little mischief.

the anniversary of the Amazing World of Dr. Seuss and sign up for a Dr. Seuss license plate at The Springfield Museums on Wednesday, June 12 from 5pm to 7:30pm. The Springfield Sheraton Monarch Place will treat guests to Seuss-inspired hors d'oeuvres, cocktails and live music. The Cat in the Hat and Things 1 & 2 will be stopping by to create a little mischief.

Tickets are available for only $50 a Springfieldmuseums.org

and 100% of this donation is tax deductible.

In This Issue

Dedication of Springfield's September 11th Monument

Golfers Ready to Swing for the Spirit

Star Spangled Springfield Returns to Riverfront Park

World's Largest Pancake Breakfast Was a WOW

Behind the Scenes at the Breakfast

News from Our Neighbor

Guest Column - Judy Matt, Spirit of Springfield

September 11th Monument Dedication

Guest Column

Judy Matt

President

Spirit of Springfield

The long journey leading up to the June 19 dedication of Springfield's own September 11th Monument has been one of the most emotional times for all of us in the Spirit of Springfield.

Long because it took several years of negotiations with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to obtain the artifact for our memorial, then find a suitable resting place, designer and dollars to fund the project - and emotional because of the many stories we learned along the way of the families, brothers, fathers and sons killed that day.

For me, personally, the creation of our own monument to September 11, 2001 - dedicated to the 498 heroic first responders who lost their lives saving others - is one of the most meaningful accomplishments of the Spirit of Springfield. Many know the great respect and admiration I have for our nation's first responders and military, including those here in our own community who help to keep us safe every day.

Bringing a September 11th memorial to our community was no easy feat and was the result of a tremendous effort on the part of many who worked tirelessly to make it a reality. Special thanks to retired Springfield Fire Commissioner Gary Cassanelli, who brought his vision to us for creating a memorial in our city, and retired Springfield Police Commission William Fitchett for lending his name to the request . Thanks to Patrick Sullivan, the city's Executive Director of Parks, Buildings and Recreation; to Dennis Ledger, Aide to the Commissioner of the Springfield Fire Department; and our own Amy Barron Burke, Vice President of the Spirit of Springfield, who all worked along with me on the seemingly never-ending search for an appropriate location.

Also, if it were not for the fundraising committee chaired by Frank Colaccino, president of The Colvest Group, we would not have found the $300,000 needed for the construction of this beautifully designed monument by Salmon Studios from Florence, MA.

I hope that you will stop by the newly-renovated Riverfront Park to view this powerful remembrance of a tragic day in American history, touch the names of the deceased first responders inscribed on the bronze wall - each has their own unique story left behind. Feel the jagged concrete still remaining more than nine-foot-tall steel beam from the World Trade Center that was destroyed in the attack.

When dusk sets in, look for the silhouette of the steel beam on the wall creating an awe-inspiring image of the Twin Towers.

I guarantee that you, just as all of us at the Spirit of Springfield, will feel overwhelmed with emotion as you reflect on a day that will forever live in the hearts and minds of all Americans for generations to come.

PLEASE JOIN US

DEDICATION CEREMONY

Wednesday,

June 19, 2019

7pm

Riverfront Park

Dates for 2019

Spirit of Springfield Golf Classic

Friday, June 7th

10am Shotgun Start

Franconia Golf Course

September 11th Monument Dedication Ceremony

Wednesday, June 19th

7pm

Riverfront Park

Star Spangled Springfield

Thursday, July 4th

7pm to 10pm

Riverfront Park