Memorial Day events promise something for everyone
Several island organizations will pay tribute to our nation’s miliary and take part in traditional summertime activities this Memorial Day weekend.
Kicking off the activities will be a fun-filled afternoon geared to island teens. The newly formed group Pine Island Teens Succeed or PITS will host a special event staged in the backyard of the Beacon of HOPE on Saturday, May 28, throughout the afternoon. Festivities will include a flag football game and cookout free to all island teens, middle school through high school age. Adults are also needed to help serve lunch and enjoy this traditional summertime event. For more information about the PITS event, call Tonya Player at 533-4350 at the Pine Island Library.
On Monday, May 30, patriotic festivities will begin at the Pine Island VFW. Teaming up with members of the Pine Island American Legion, a Memorial Day ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. Everyone is invited to gather at the VFW on Stringfellow Road in front of the American flag to pay homage to members of the military past and present. Following the outdoor ceremony, everyone is welcome to join the members of the VFW indoors for lunch and an afternoon of live entertainment.
Also on Monday, Miceli’s Restaurant in Matlacha will be the venue for a tribute to the military. The “Salute Our Troops” will take place from 2 to 6 p.m. featuring food and drink specials and will highlight several local musicians including Pat McCune, John Mckenzie and Kip Lawrence. The three performers met several years ago while attending the Key West Songwriters Fest and while often they are solo performers, they also have played a number of venues locally as a unique trio.
First discovered in Key West, Pat McCune has been called a “guitar wizard” and is accomplished on both the 6 and 12 string guitar. Today, McCune is not only a respected performer, but an accomplished publisher and songwriter. No stranger to the big stage, he has performed with such notables as John Prine, Jorma Kaukonen and Jimmy Buffet. Very familiar with Pine Island audiences, McCune as been among the featured performers at the Matlacha Mariner’s Southwest Florida Blues Festival as well as at island pubs and social gatherings delivering the best in folk and blues music.
Known as Johnny “Rockaday” Mckenzie, he is best noted as the front man for the famous touring band, The Mckenzie Brothers. In addition to touring with the group, Mckenzie has made his name in the music industry as a staff writer for Capricorn Records. Performing covers and originals, Mckenzie spans the gamut of rock, pop, jazz, blues, country, folk and gospel promising to deliver something for everyone.
On the local front, Mckenzie also has played along side Matlacha resident Kip Lawrence as well performing his solo act at Woody’s Waterside, Miceli’s and the Tarpon Lodge.
A local favorite, Kip Lawrence has a strong following as not only a member of the trio Yard Dogs, but as a solo performer as well. A prolific songwriter, many of Lawrence’s compositions are reflections of the place he calls home. Song titles include Matlacha Moon, a Fishermans Song and Living in Matlacha which takes listeners on the virtual tour of Matlacha and Pine Island in Lawrence’s unique perspective.
There is no cover charge for the Salute Our Troops event and all are welcome to attend.