Celebrate Pensacola

I know I usually use this blog to brag about Riley, but today I would like to brag on my parents and all the hard work that they and countless others have invested in Celebrate Pensacola. Now my Mom will give all the credit to my Dad, who is Co-Chairman of the non-profit, Celebrate Pensacola, but she as his sidekick has been helping out when she was not consumed with Riley. And while Riley and I were visiting Brewton this week we took a small 1 day trip over to Pensacola to dine with royalty, and experience first hand the fruits of my parents' labor.

This year Pensacola is celebrating it's 450th anniversary, which commemorates the founding of America's first European settlement by Spanish explorer Don Tristan de Luna in August 1559. The first settlement being Pensacola. And how do you celebrate 450 years of Pensacola history...well you invite the King and Queen of Spain to come over and hang out...(ok I am sure that they extended a much more formal invitation), and the royal household accepted. His and Her Majesty arrived in Pensacola on Wednesday evening and on Thursday visited Ft. George where they laid a wreath, then they visited the TT Wentworth where they viewed Spanish artifacts and spoke to the public (somewhere between 2000-3000 people were watching) and then they attended a lunch for 450 people (who paid $250 a plate to dine with royalty).

I attended the luncheon, thanks to the kind invitation from my parents, and it was fantastic. I was seated 10 feet away from their Majesties and I enjoyed an incredible meal. My parents were seated at the head table with the King and Queen, and my father was introducing the govenor, senators and congressmen to make their toasts, as well as his Majesty, Juan Carlos. Daddy did a fabulous job, and Momma looked calm even though she wasn't. She was just relieved not to be sitting next to the King as the original seating chart, dictated by Navy protocol, had arranged. I know that my parents are relieved that things went smoothly. It took several years of work, visits to the Consul General in Miami, a meeting with both Florida senators and our Congressmen, as well as the Spanish Ambassador to the United States. And then 39 days before the King and Queen arrived, Celebrate Pensacola was told they had accepted. You can imagine that the last 39 days have been quite a ride. Efforts were made by many, but I have to say quite proudly that without my father's determination I do not think that things would have happened as they did. And as a friend pointed out to me today, Celebrate Pensacola's efforts have helped to instill a true since of community and pride in Pensacola's citizens. It was a great week to be a Pensacolian...says this Montgomerian.

Here is a picture from the luncheon while the US officials toasted to their Magesties. You will note that there are no jewels, medallions...or crowns! Can you believe I get to be in the same room as royalty and no crown?

One more note on this lovely event...I think it went better than their trip to Miami which followed. There Mario Batali was MC, and he droped an f-bomb not once but twice, and then Florida's govenor (who was on better behavior in Pensacola) got up and left before the royal couple, leaving the Queen sitting by herself. Not that I am at all surprised that our Southern hospitality outdid Miami's.