“Festival hosts fallen heroes' families” |
| Festival hosts fallen heroes' families Posted: 12 Mar 2011 03:07 AM PST GE0RGE H. NEWMAN The maternal grandparents of fallen Army Pfc. Paul Cuzzupe II, David, right, and Judy Allard of Plant City, were recognized by officials of the Florida Strawberry Festival March 9, along with family members of three police officers who died in the line of duty during the past year. They were honored as part of American Heroes Day at the festival. GEORGE H. NEWMAN Annette Cuzzupe-Kirk, the mother of Army Pfc. Paul Orazio Cuzzupe II who was killed in Afghanistan Aug. 8, accepts a quilt fashioned by the Florida Strawberry Festival Neighborhood Village volunteers. With her are festival President Mike Sparkman, left, festival General Manager Paul Davis and Air Force Col. Lenny Richoux. GEORGE H. NEWMAN Air Force Col. Lenny J. Richoux, a commander at MacDill Air Force Base, left, Florida Strawberry Festival General Manager Paul Davis and festival President Mike Sparkman prepare for the introduction of the families of area military and police officers who died in the line of duty in the last year. The families were honored at the festival's annual American Heroes Day. <</span> > Published: March 12, 2011 PLANT CITY - There was a mixture of sadness, pride and hope at the Florida Strawberry Festival's American Heroes Day. There was sadness for the families of an area soldier and three law enforcement officers who died last year in the line of duty. Pride of country was exhibited by thousands of people who crowded the Wish Farms Soundstage stadium to salute the fallen men and their families. And there was the hope by strawberry festival officials that somehow they could help those families in their time of sorrow. "This means a lot to me," said Annette Cuzzupe-Kirk, the mother of Army Pfc. Paul Cuzzupe, who was killed in August in Afghanistan. "To see the community come together, remembering Paul and what he did, is important for me." Besides Cuzzupe's family, the festival also honored the families of Tampa police officers David Curtis and Jeffrey Kocab, who were killed in a June traffic stop; and Hillsborough County sheriff's deputy Mark A. Longway, who died in September when his patrol car collided with a tractor-trailer; The festival offered free admission at the March 9 American Heroes Day to all military members, veterans, law enforcement officers, firefighters and other first responders. The families of Cuzzupe, Curtis, Kocab and Longway were invited for the special tribute at the soundstage. "Just to have the opportunity to be a small part to say thank you for the sacrifice made by the soldiers and police officers, and their families, is heartwarming for us," festival General Manager Paul Davis said. "We are proud to honor them and all the soldiers and first responders who work in our community and around the world." The families were treated to free food, drink, assorted rides and headline entertainment. Festival Neighborhood Village exhibits chairman Betty Lucas and volunteer Ginger Vincent made quilted flags that were monogrammed with the name of each fallen hero. Each family was also given a plaque that displayed a photo of the individual and an American eagle. Cuzzupe's maternal grandparents, David and Judy Allard of Plant City, brought their daughter to the festival without telling her what was in store. "We didn't want her to have to think about it beforehand," David Allard said. "But we knew it was something she would cherish." gnewman@tampatrib.com (813) 731-8161 This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
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