CRESTVIEW — The community shows its appreciation for area military and their families Saturday with the annual Military Appreciation Recognition Celebration.

Held every Armed Forces Day, the midday event fills the Old Spanish Trail pavilion and nearby open areas and picnic shelter with food, music, static displays and recreation opportunities.

Though aimed squarely at members of the armed forces and their families, the event is open to any community supporter, MARC chairman Bob Lynn said.

“Ours is a military-family-oriented event but it’s open to anybody,” Lynn, one of the event’s founders, said.

Lynn said the private organizing committee is registered with the state as a charity non-profit and is not a city committee nor part of another organization.

“We are chartered to provide a one-day picnic at Spanish Trail Park for everyone in honor of our military and their families,” Lynn said.

SHOWING APPRECIATION

MARC’s founding tenets were simple, Lynn said. “We thought it would be good to show our appreciation for the sacrifices the military members and their families make for our freedom.”

Area businesses and individuals fund the celebration through contributions of money, supplies and equipment, Lynn said.

“We raise about $9,000 or $10,000 a year from the support from our local merchants,” he said.

“We are happy to have community and business involvement,” MARC member Rae Schwartz said. “Give us a call.”

Admission, activities, entertainment and food are free, the latter including a hotdog and hamburger cookout, Boy Scout cobbler—baked by the scouts in a cast-iron Dutch oven over hot coals—Pepsi products and lemonade and iced tea provided by the GFWC Crestview Woman’s Club.

CARS AND AIRCRAFT

Vintage cars, motorcycles and classic and more recent Ford Mustangs will be displayed. Exhibits include the U.S. Army Rangers’ snake display.

Bounce houses, static military displays, a Social Security Administration information table and a OneBlood blood drive are also planned.

The Emerald Coast Young Marines open the day’s events with a presentation of colors. Later they will stage a re-enactment of the World War II flag raising at Iwo Jima.

The Rev. Tyrone L. Broadus will deliver the invocation. As a soldier, he was captured in a famous photograph as he held an umbrella over the grieving Jackie Kennedy as she knelt at her slain husband, John F. Kennedy’s, grave at Arlington National Cemetery.

A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter will perform a fly-by, then land.

Entertainment includes the Emerald Coast Community Band, an MIA-POW recognition by Liz Westby, and a taekwondo demonstration by Gordon Martial Arts.

Music also includes the Johnny Cash tribute group Jim Terrell and Family, and Johnny and Friends. 

“Bring your own lawn chair!” Lynn said. “We don’t have seating.”

“We invite everyone to come out with us and let’s show everybody how much we support our military,” Lynn said.

WHEN: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Admission, food, activities and entertainment are free.

WHERE: Old Spanish Trail Park, Industrial Drive near Stillwell Boulevard, Crestview.

PROGRAM

●10:30 a.m.: Flag raising, Crestview Fire Department and Public Works

●10:50: motorcycles and show cars arrive

●11: Emerald Coast Young Marines present colors

●11:05: National Anthem, Emerald Coast Community Band

●11:10: Invocation, Rev. Tyrone L. Broadus

●11:15: U.S. Coast Guard helicopter fly-by

●11:17: MIA/POW recognition, Liz Westby

●11:20: Welcome by Crestview Mayor David Cadle

●11:25: Emerald Coast Community Band performs

●Noon: Young Marines re-enact flag-raising over Iwo Jima

●12:10 p.m.: U.S. Army Ranger snake show

●12:55: Jim Terrell and Family Johnny Cash tribute

●1:40: Crestview Community Chorders perform

●2:10: Johnny and Friends perform

●2:35: Gordon Martial Arts demonstration

●3: Drawing for Masterbuilt gas smoker

MILITARY APPRECIATION RECOGNITION CELEBRATION

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview military appreciation celebration to include helicopter fly-by, free food, music

CRESTVIEW — Crestview Elks Lodge No. 2624 and the Autism Society of the Emerald Coast are hosting Exceptional Children's Day June 11.

The free event — for families with special needs children — is 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 2624 Elks Lane.

It will feature entertainment by Reid Soria of Autism Sings LLC, water slides, face painting and more. Water, lemonade, snowcones, and a variety of foods are also planned. Gluten-free options will be available. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Elks, Autism Society plan June 11 Exceptional Children's Day

CRESTVIEW — The Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary of Crestview will have the next Memorial Day observance on May 30.

The event is 10 a.m. May 30 at Liveoak Park Memorial Cemetery, Crestview.

All local veteran groups, civic organizations, churches and individuals may place  a wreath at the memorial in the cemetery at the event.

To take part in the program, contact Merallyn McDonald, 682-3666.

Group members will place flags on all veterans' graves at 7 a.m. May 28 at the cemetery.

The service is open to the public.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Memorial Day observance scheduled

Need something to do this week? Check out these fun events:

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 3 things to do this week in Northwest Florida

CRESTVIEW — "Ready or Not? Preparing for the Unexpected" is the topic of an Edward Jones seminar May 19.

The event, presented by financial adviser Yvonne Shanklin, will cover how to create a proactive strategy to prepare for life's surprises, including job loss, disability and more.

The event begins at 6 p.m. May 19 at Hideaway Pizza, 326 N. Main St. Dinner will be served.

The public may attend, but seating is limited. To RSVP, call 682-2497 by May 18.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview financial planning seminar set May 19

CRESTVIEW — These traffic changes take effect this week.

Okaloosa County

●Interstate 10 resurfacing: Intermittent and alternating lane closures east and westbound between the Santa Rosa County line and east of the County Road 189 (Holt) exit, 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. through Thursday, May 19.  The speed limit will be reduced to 60 mph in the active work zone.

●State Road 123 widening: Lane restrictions on S.R. 85 at the intersection of S.R. 123, 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., through Saturday, May 21 as crews perform paving operations. 

●U.S. 90 resurfacing: East and westbound lane closures from west of the Shoal River Bridge to the Walton County line, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Saturday, May 21 as crews perform construction activities. 

●U.S. 90 resurfacing: Eastbound and westbound lane closures from west of Summertime Drive to Old River Road, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Saturday, May 21 as paving operations continue.

Walton County

●U.S. 331 Choctawhatchee Bay Bridge: Construction crews plan to shift north and southbound traffic to the newly constructed bridge the week of May 16. The work will begin 7 p.m. and conclude by 6 a.m. Tuesday May 17. Drivers will encounter alternating and intermittent lane closures to allow crews to prepare the roadway and complete the shift.

●I-10 resurfacing: Intermittent east and westbound lane closures from west of Boy Scout Road to east of U.S. 331, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Thursday, May 19.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 6 Okaloosa and Walton County traffic changes to expect

CRESTVIEW — Friends, classmates, family members and acquaintances of Bravon Childs and her family gathered in Twin Hills Park Friday evening to support one another and the 18-year-old's parents, Kimberly Keen and Heath and Samantha Childs.

PHOTOS: Vigil for Bravon >>

The 2015 Laurel Hill School alumna, described by Karl Lavine, a friend of Bravon's father, Heath Childs, as "funny, cheerful and kind," died following a May 6 car wreck on U.S. Highway 90.

"She was just an all-around good person," Lavine said during Friday night's vigil. "She was a good girl."

More than 30 supporters attended the vigil organized by Brandy Crawford, a friend and colleague of Heath.

"There's a lot of people who love him and care about him," Crawford said.

'SHE LOVED LIFE'

After the tears flowed at Bravon's Thursday funeral and burial in Svea, Friday's vigil was a celebration of a girl who made everyone in her wide circle of friends and family laugh.

"She was something else," Heath Childs said. "She could meet a room full of strangers and leave a room full of friends."

Surveying supporters arrayed on the Twin Hills Park pier and gazebo, sitting on the grass alongside the pond, gathered under the picnic shelter and walking the half-mile track in contemplation, Childs said the turnout was indicative of how beloved his daughter was.

"This is a testament to who she was," Childs said. "She never met a stranger. She loved everyone. She loved life."

Supporters remembered Bravon's quirks and passions.

"She loved elephants, basketball, the Gators, the beach, her dog," cousin Cheyann Goodwin said. "She loved everything."

"She was a good kid," Bravon's grandmother, Cathy James, said. "She loved to have fun. She was always smiling."

"She was a good-natured young 'un," added "Pawpaw" Nat James.

MESSAGES OF LOVE

Bravon's sister, Taylor Henderson, laughed as she described practical jokes her sister played on her.

"She was a handful," Taylor said. "When she wasn't sleeping she was with her friends. She was a goofball. She didn't have no enemies. Everyone loved her. We used to joke with each other all the time, but we never got mad at each other. It was too funny."

Crawford said such memories of Bravon will never be forgotten.

During the vigil, folks wrote their thoughts and memories on note cards for Heath and Samantha and dropped them in a decorative box inscribed, "A hundred hearts would be too few to carry all my love for you."

"When it's the middle of the night, he can reach out and read these messages of love," Crawford said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Family, friends and supporters hold vigil for family of Laurel Hill teen

CRESTVIEW — The Military Order of the Purple Heart Truck Run is May 25.

The nationwide cross country road trip — part of the Mobility Is Freedom campaign — showcases a modified 2015 Ford F-150 designed specifically for veterans who are paralyzed or had a loss of limb.

Wounded veterans, care providers, families, supporters, and medical/rehabilitation personnel may inspect the vehicle, ask questions and take photos of the latest in mobility technology at its tour stops in Okaloosa County.

Scheduled stops  on the 25th include:

●11 a.m., Milton's Veterans Memorial

●2:30 p.m., Eglin Armament Museum

Members of the patriot Guard will escort the truck down U.S. Highway 90 to Crestview, then south on State Road 85 to the Armament Museum.

At each stop Combat Wounded Parking Sign applications will be available for government, public, business, or private parking areas free of charge from the MOPH and other run-associated organizations as a way to honor and recognize Purple Heart veterans.  A sample of the sign will be in the museum parking lot.

The campaign is sponsored jointly by Wounded Warriors  Family Support (not affiliated with Wounded Warrior Project) MOPH.

A run spokesperson said, “The ability to be mobile will give these combat-wounded veterans the freedom to live a productive life.” 

The “Mobility is Freedom” Campaign is sponsored jointly by Wounded Warriors  Family Support (WWFS) (not affliated with Wounded Warrior Project) and the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH).

For further information on sponsorships and donations by individuals, groups, businesses, and corporations, contact purpleheart.org, wwfs.org. You may also contact Purple Heart Chapter 811 at shh1100@cox.net or, you can text the word “give” to 703-372-9749.  

MOPH and WWFS are 501(c)3 organizations, and all contributions are tax deductible.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Northwest Florida Mobility is Freedom truck run is May 25

CRESTVIEW — Mia Batson of Ballet & Barre in Crestview will discuss and perform concepts of ballet, contemporary, and lyrical dance during a June 7 program.

“Dance: Its History and Beauty” begins at 10:30 a.m. at the Crestview library, 1445 Commerce Drive. Doors open at 10 a.m.; juice, coffee, and cookies will be served.

The free event is appropriate for children age 6 through adults. 

Call the library at 682-4432 or Ballet & Barre at 306-3913 for details.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Program on dance is June 7 in Crestview

CRESTVIEW —  A former physical education teacher is all about moving to the music. 

Mr. Mac — Michael McCartan — is bringing music and movement to Warriors Hall at 6:30 p.m. June 7.  This free-for-you Special Family Event is designed for ages four and up. 

Younger siblings are welcome.  Registration is not required.

Activities for the event include:

●moving to original Mr. Mac Says children’s physical activity music

●performing hand drumming with wooden Tiki drums

●briefly reviewing the history of drumming with cadences to today's popular patriotic songs

●singing patriotic songs

●working as a team together to perform a variety of parachute tasks

●4th of July beach activities such as the limbo and  hula hoops. 

Visit www.mrmacsays.com for more details about Mr. Mac.  

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Mr. Mac plans June 7 Crestview appearance