St. Petersburg leaders and community members gathered outside City Hall on Wednesday morning for a special flag raising ceremony to kick off Independence Day festivities early. The event featured a performance of the national anthem and a pledge of allegiance led by young children as officials hoisted a special America 250 flag.
Leadership Messages
St. Pete Mayor Ken Welch said, ‘For 250 years, the American story has been one of ideals about what we can become, about persevering in our quest to form a more perfect union, to learn from the lessons of history and to build a brighter future for us all.’ Terri Lipsey Scott, Executive Director of The Woodson African American Museum of Florida, noted that ‘African-American history is not separate from American history. It is American history.’
Upcoming Weekend Schedule
The festivities continue Saturday starting at 6:15 a.m. at the Pier with the sold-out Four Miles on the Fourth walk or run. A free Independence Day Celebration will follow at the Pier from 4-10 p.m., offering live music, food, a market, a beer garden, a family fun zone and water ski shows. The night will conclude with a 9 p.m. fireworks show at the Pier.
Original reporting: Tampa Bay Florida News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
