Bay Park Salutes Miles for Marines a Huge Success
by Michael Sisk
On, Sunday evening, May 27. 2007, the Morena Business Association joined Miles for Marines to celebrate Memorial Day with a street party, fundraiser, and thankful tribute to our wounded troops and our fallen heroes. Ashton Street was closed from Morena Boulevard to Chicago Street, and over 1,700 visitors attended the block party event, Bay Park Salutes Miles for Marines.
The United States Flag was raised, saluted, and we honored our flag and our country's heroes with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America. This was an emotional moment for many who were there.
Delicious food was provided by Baci Ristorante Italiano, Bay Park Fish Company, DaNino's Pizza, Siesel's Meat Market and Deli, and Offshore Tavern & Grill. Each restaurant had $5 sidewalk menus. 1,000 $5 meal tickets were sold with all proceeds going to the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund.
Live Spanish music and Flamenco dancers were provided by Juanita Franco's Academia de Baile Español. Children enjoyed face painting and a bounce house. A raffle and a silent auction added to the festivities. Gift certificates for dinners, cruises, fishing expeditions, flowers, art, wine baskets, jewelry, and other wonderful prizes were donated by the host restaurants and by Ole Flamenco, HornBlower Cruises, Tiffany Downtown, Bumblebee Tuna, Clairemont High School, Fire Etc, Squid Co., Yasuda Nursery, Baja Silk Screen, Seaforth Sportfishing, Berquist Wine Marketing, Point Loma Sportfishing, Quiksilver, and Boat Depot and Dry Tube.
The highlight of the evening was a screening of "Pirates of the Caribbean" on a 35-foot screen at the end of Ashton Street.
The event was covered all evening by cameras and news crews from all four local news channels. Live footage of the event was being inserted into newscasts all evening long. This resulted in drawing people to the event from all over San Diego, hoping to see what was going on in person. One anecdote from the evening relates to a young girl who had seen Nevin Kleege, MBA President, on TV in one of the live interviews he gave. She thought that Nevin was a familiar movie star, and insisted that her family attend the event. When they arrived, she saw Nevin and said, "There's the movie star!", and she proceeded to ask Nevin for his autograph! Nevin told me, "That's the kind of night it was -- incredible! A huge success! This event has put the Morena Business Association on the map. We now know that people will come out for our events."
Everyone had a great time as we raised money and awareness for our wounded heroes.
The Morena Business Association and the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund express our sincere, heartfelt thanks to everyone who attended this event. We offer our undying gratitude to the restaurants, companies, and donors who contributed their time, food, services, gifts, and efforts to make this event an unqualified success!
To comment on, correct, or update this article or to share photos or other information you might have about this special event, please write to Michael Sisk at msisk@mbasandiego.org or phone 858-273-3036.
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