FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Booch Demarchi, Lee County Public Resources
(941) 335-2481 (media inquiries only)

LEE VETERANS DAY CELEBRATIONS INCLUDE FULL LINE-UP OF EVENTS

FORT MYERS, Fla. (November 5, 2001) – Lee County Government is joining forces again with other public-sector and private organizations to produce the countywide Third Annual Veterans Day Celebration, "Freedom Marches On."

The celebrations begin Saturday (Nov. 10) in Fort Myers and continue Sunday (Nov. 11) in Cape Coral. The events scheduled on both sides of the Caloosahatchee River are:

Saturday

6:00 – 7:00 p.m.

– 5K Road Race starts at Royal Palm Square in Fort Myers and continues across the Midpoint Memorial Bridge, ending back at Royal Palm Square. The Midpoint Memorial Bridge will be closed to motorists from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. for the 5K Race.

Sunday

4:00 – 5:00 p.m. – Veterans Day Parade along S.E. 47^th Terrace in Cape Coral. Parade route starts at S.E. 9^th Place and ends at S.E. 15^th Avenue.

5:00 – 5:30 p.m. – Veterans Day Post-Parade Ceremonies, Big John’s Parking Lot at the Cape Coral Town Center.

Grand Marshal of the Veterans Day Parade:

Bob Thompson, a highly decorated World War II veteran who later served in the State Department and Department of the Army. Mr. Thompson was a 1^st Lt. in the 517^th Parachute Infantry Combat Team, serving in combat in Italy, the parachute invasion of southern France, the Battle of the Bulge and other battles. He incurred severe combat wounds in Italy and Belgium and is the recipient of more than 15 medals, including two Purple Hearts and two Bronze Stars.

Master of Ceremonies of the Veterans Day Parade:

Beth Shelburne, co-anchor of the FOX 4 News at Ten since January of 2000. A graduate of Auburn University with a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication and a minor in Journalism. Ms. Shelburne has held producer, anchor and reporting positions at stations in Alabama, Mississippi and Florida. During her college career she interned for the executive producer of "Late Show with David Letterman" and also worked at MTV Networks.

To learn more about the event and ceremonies, visit http://lee-county.com/Veterans.

The sponsoring organizations are Lee County Government, the Lee County School District, the cities and police departments of Cape Coral and Fort Myers, United Veterans of Lee County, Veterans Midpoint Memorial Charitable Trust, Inc., Fort Myers Track Club, YMCA of Lee County, and the citizens of Lee County.

4:00 – 5:00 p.m.	– Veterans Day Parade along S.E. 47^th Terrace in Cape Coral. Parade route starts at S.E. 9^th Place and ends at S.E. 15^th Avenue.

5:00 – 5:30 p.m.	– Veterans Day Post-Parade Ceremonies, Big John’s Parking Lot at the Cape Coral Town Center.