AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler
There couldn’t have been a more fitting day than September 11 for the dedication of the Gold Star Memorial & Heroes Monument at Hatton-Regester Green in Olde Severna Park.
Looking down on the ceremony from the Woods Church and Severna Park Community Center parking lots past a long line of police vehicles, latecomers were awed by the size of the crowd. Crossing B&A Boulevard, they were stirred by the sight of county and state police standing at attention saluting as singer Hannah Hall began the National Anthem and the American Legion color guard approached.
Flanked by American and Maryland State flags, Gold Star Memorial & Heroes Monument committee member Bob Bauman took the podium to introduce the guest speaker, retired colonel Mark E. Mitchell.
Marking the day as one of remembrance for the sacrifices of many following the day in 2001 when the War on Terrorism came to America’s shores, he related Mitchell’s background of service with the 5th Special Forces Group. The unit entered Afghanistan by helicopter, then traveled by horseback while working with the Northern Alliance. Mitchell led a fifteen-person special forces team of British and Americans to stop a prison uprising involving John Walker Lindh at Qala-i-Jangi. For his actions during the battle against 600 Taliban, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.
Subsequently serving in Iraq, he commanded the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Arabian Peninsula and later was Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict for the Department of Defense.
“It’s my privilege to introduce Mark Mitchell to dedicate this Gold Star Family Memorial to commemorate our own fallen heroes” said Bauman. “I can’t think of anyone more worthy to do so. Please give a warm welcome to one of America’s finest….the decorated horse soldier himself, Colonel Mark Mitchell.”
Warmly applauded by the audience of law enforcement and military personnel, veterans, Gold Star families, American Legion members and local residents, Mitchell said he was humbled to be chosen to dedicate the memorial. He thanked the members of American Legion Post 175 and project sponsors for their determination to make the monument a reality.
Then he began an eloquent speech noting that he was honored to be with those gathered for the commemoration of that fateful day 19 years ago – to acknowledge and remember the victims of those attacks and to keep alive the memory of those who made the supreme sacrifice in service to our nation in the battles that followed.
“Today our focus is and must be on these men – PFC Eric Kavanaugh, Lance Corporal Eric Herzberg, Lance Corporal Taylor Wild, and Airman First Class Nathaniel McDavitt.,” he said. “I want to extend my humble gratitude to these men for the sacrifice they made and my sincere condolences to their families.”
Referencing his own pride in being a soldier, Mitchell emphasized that it takes a different kind of young person to volunteer to defend his or her country.
He acknowledged the mix of emotions of pain and pride the soldiers’ families must be feeling and expressed his gratitude to them. Then he moved to each memorial plaque and solemnly read the words inscribed thereon.
After reading the words on a central plaque dedicated to Gold Star Families and their sons who served in Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, he ended his speech as movingly as it began with the simple words, “We’ll never forget their sacrifice.”
Following Mitchell’s touching address, Maryland State Delegate Brian Chisholm spoke on behalf of the memorial committee acknowledging and thanking the Severna Park businesses, Anne Arundel County political dignitaries, sponsors, committee members and American Legion members that made construction of the memorial possible.
The attractively designed and sturdily built gazebo – fitting tribute to the young men replaces an aging, original gazebo built when the Severna Park section of the B&A Trail was laid over the pre-existing Baltimore Annapolis Railroad tracks.
At the conclusion of the event, Chisholm invited attendees to step forward and visit the memorial and read the beautifully displayed plaques. He also invited attendees to a luncheon hosted by American Legion Post 175.
He noticed that much of the crowd gathered to chat with friends while examining the plaques. They remained there even as he stepped down to greet dignitaries including George Owings, III, Secretary of the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs, Maryland State Delegates Sid Saab and Nicholaus R. Kipke and other dignitaries, business owners and committee members that supported the project.
For information or to make a donation, visit http://www.heroesofsevernapark.com/
A new business flowers on Severna Park streets
A very cheerful sight can be spotted these days across from The Big Bean on B&A Boulevard every Friday afternoon.
The Peaceful Petals Flower Truck is a joy to behold with flowers ranging from roses, hydrangeas, lilies, and lavender to vivid purple iris. Owner Megan Taylor and her “partner in crime” Suzanne Evans are doing very well with the budding business.
“I came up with the idea for the flower truck because I throw a lot of parties and have always loved to decorate,” Taylor said. “I began doing parties for friends and was kind of an an amateur event planner. But I work full-time so I didn’t want to do it professionally but as a labor of love.”
An inspired solution appeared in the form of a unique truck from Salt Lake City, Utah – the ideal portable retail platform.
Living in New York City before moving here, Taylor routinely purchased bouquets of fresh flowers from corner bodegas. She missed that convenience and was inspired to put “Petals to the metal” with the truck providing seasonal, locally-sourced fresh flowers to the people of Severna Park and surrounding Anne Arundel towns.
“We’d looked for a while, went to a bunch of auctions, and had our eyes set on this vintage 1958 VW transporter truck for all last year. We finally bought her in November and named her Josephine,” she said.
A friend from Image 360 created the floral scheme for the adorable truck as well as business cards, stickers, and other paraphernalia.
Not yet a year old, the business positively boomed as a flower delivery service from the onset of the COVOD-19 pandemic. They continue to do online sales at https://www.peacefulpetalsflowertruck.com/ but love bringing the flowers to the customer.
The truck attracts a lot of attention and they have lots of happy customers. After stopping to make a quick purchase, customer Tammi Molavi could be seen crossing the street with a Big Bean smoothie in one hand and a bouquet of lilies in the other.
Taylor and Evans park the truck in Severna Park each Friday, in front of a friend’s store called Details and Designs in Eastport on Saturdays, and next to a Blendabowl Food Truck on Ritchie Highway on Sundays. The schedule can be seen on their website.
In-season, they get much of their stock from local Maryland flower farms and out of season they work with wholesalers. Both women say they enjoy the camaraderie of selling flowers on the street.
