27 DE FEBRERO 2011 - La Prensa De San Antonio

febrero 27, 2011
Por Roberto J. Perez
El esperado desfile Battle of
Flowers Parade, que se inició
hace 120 años, está programado
este año para el 15 de abril teniendo
bajo el lema Bootin’ &
Scootin representado por carros
alegóricos de una veintena de
preparatorias locales arregladas
con temas alusivos a las canciones
de música de country identificadas
con George Strait.
Battle of Flowers Parade Association,
organizador del evento
invitó al senador John Cornyn
como Gran Marshal para el desfile
en el que participarán más
de cien unidades entre carrosas
alegóricas, bandas y conjuntos
musicales, enormes globos y
By Cristina Blackwell
cblackwell@laprensasa.com
Earlier this week, country music
star and longtime supporter of the
troops Tim McGraw teamed up with
Outback Steakhouse to kick off its
second annual Thanks for Giving
program by saying “thank you”
to troops with a special visit at the
Texas National Guard Armory in
San Antonio.
The “I Like it, I Love it” singer
along with Outback Steakhouse
President Jeff Smith announced their
commitment to donate $1 million
of proceeds from its “Red, White,
and Bloomin’” menu to Operation
Homefront, a San Antonio-based
national nonprofit providing emergency
financial help and other assistance
to the families of our service
members and wounded warriors.
“The sacrifices that our troops and
their families make so we can enjoy
the freedoms we have in the United
States are something Outback Steakhouse
has recognized and appreciated
since we opened our doors 23
years ago,” said Smith. “Outback’s
commitment to once again donate
$1 million to Operation Homefront,
along with our visit to the Texas
National Guard Armory is a token
of our thanks to those who give so
much.”
Smith and McGraw accompanied
Operation Homefront in fulfilling
grupos ecuestres sin faltar el
popular Coyote, mascota de San
Antonio Spurs.
Los detalles del evento fueron
dados a conocer el miércoles en
una conferencia de prensa en la
Plaza de El Álamo por Suzanne
Terry, presidente de Battle of
Flowers Association y Anne
Ballantyne, presidente del desfile
de referencia, con la asistencia de
Sam Bell Steves II, presidente de
San Antonio Fiesta Commision,
organizadores de Fiesta San
Antonio.
La banda Ocean of Soul de
Texas Southern University abrirá
la marcha en el recorrido que
se inicia en la calle Broadway
y Grayson St, pasando por la
Plaza de El Álamo, continuar
essential needs of several military
families. Through this effort,
Outback had the chance to personally
meet four of the families in San
Antonio who receive assistance as
a direct result of Operation Homefront’s
ongoing support. From housing
that allows wounded-warriors
to rehabilitate with their families to
school supplies and holiday toys for
military kids to funds to help cover
unexpected expenses, gifts from
Operation Homefront help military
families in their transitions back to
everyday life.
The charitable duo also visited on
of Operation Homefront’s residential
villages, surprising its residents
with a special trip to their local
Outback Steakhouse for dinner later
that evening. Finally, Outbackers
took the grills and prepared a plated
lunch for approximately 300 service
members.
“This really meant a lot,” said
Nate Canales, who came back from
Afghanistan last month. “I’ve been
in the military for 19 years now, and
have been stationed overseas for
three years, so it really feels great to
come back to something like this.”
Created especially for Thanks
for Giving 2011, the Red, White &
Bloomin’ menu will be available in
participating Outback restaurants
between now and April 5. Proceeds
from this menu will help to meet
Outback’s 2011 $1 million commitment
to Operation Homefront.
en Commerce y concluir en N.
Santa Rosa.
Suzan Terry agradeció la cooperación
de 400 voluntarios que
por meses de anticipación han
estado trabajando en la organización
del desfile.
El Senador John Cornyn está
plenamente identificado en San
Antonio. Graduado de St. Mary’s
Law School y de Trinity University
ha servido como Juez de
Distrito en el Estado de Texas y
antes de ocupar un lugar en el
senado, donde lleva 8 años de
servicio, fue Attorney General
de Texas.
Battle of Flowers Association
contribuye también a la programación
de Fiesta San Antonio con
el 73 Battle of Flowers Parade
Thanks for Giving allows restaurantgoers
to express their appreciation
for our country’s dedicated servicemen
and women while enjoying new
items such as a Chicken Artichoke
Flatbread, Hearts of Gold Mahi and
Strawberry Waffle Shortcake dessert,
in addition to Outback favorites.
“I continue to be impressed by
Outback Steakhouse’s longtime
support of the troops,” said McGraw.
“I am honored to be involved with
the ‘Thanks for Giving’ program
which not only satisfies major needs
of troops and their families, but also
helps raise awareness and funds to
support our selfless servicemen and
women.”
Honoring the U.S. troops has
Band Festival que tendrá lugar en
el Alamo Stadium con la participación
de unos 3 mil estudiantes
que integran 31 bandas de preparatorias
de los distritos escolares
del área de San Antonio.
La producción de este festival
de música estará a cargo de los
maestros de música Manuel
Flores, de Brackenridge High
School y James Miculka de
Northside Independent School
District, quienes con la asistencia
de un comité de 13 músicos profesionales,
preparan el programa
pleno de energía y espectacularidad
que concluirá con juegos
pirotécnicos. La mayoría de las
bandas participantes en este concurso
tomarán parte en el desfile
del 15 de abril.
always been a long standing priority
for Outback Steakhouse, and
since first opening in 1988, Outback
hosted military events and initiatives
all over the country and abroad.
Included in Outback’s supportive efforts,
along with Thanks for Giving,
is their Operation Feeding Freedom
initiative which sends teams of
Outbackers to the frontlines to feed
American troops stationed abroad.
Since 2002, more than 167,000
troops in Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait
and Turkey have been given a taste
of home through this program.
“The outpouring of support from
Outback Steakhouse during the past
23 years has been tremendous,” said
Brigadier General John Joward,
7-E
Revelan últimos detalles del gran desfile Battle of Flowers
(Foto Roberto J. Perez)
Tim McGraw enjoys lunch with local troops
Country singer legend Tim McGraw teamed up with Outback Steakhouse to give back to the men and
women who serve our country for the second annual Thanks for Giving Program, which raises money
for Operation Homefront. (Photo Dennis Ayotte)
Opeartion Homefront Board Member.
“As a retired member of the U.S.
Military, it means to much to see the
fold from Outback helping our active
and retired servicemen.”
For more information about
Thanks for Giving, please visit
Outback.com. Supporters can also
join with Outback to say “thanks”
to the troops and all military heroes
on Outback’s Facebook page
(Facebook.com/Outback) by posting
notes and sharing photos of military
heroes. The page will also feature a
new website which allows viewers
to meet a few of the military families
who have benefited from Outback’s
2010 $1 million donation to Operation
Homefront.