Pinecrest and its garden club honors vets with Blue Star Memorial Highway marker

Christian Armstrong of the Pinecrest Garden Club called Feb. 18 “a glorious day” for its cloudless blue sky and the small dedication ceremony among towering oak trees at Veterans Wayside Park on U.S. 1.

The purpose of the day was glorious as well, she said.

It was the unveiling of the new Blue Star Memorial Highway Marker to honor veterans hosted by the Pinecrest Garden Club, the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs, and the Village of Pinecrest.

As guests silently watched, the Pinecrest Police Department Honor Guard raised the American and POW/MIA flags at the start of the ceremony. Even busy Miami drivers passing by on U.S. 1 slowed down to pay respect.

“Never leave anything unsaid, forgive often and love powerfully,” United States Army Major Cecil Costadoni, Deputy Command Chaplain at U.S. Southern Command, said in his tribute addressed to the group. “Never lose a moment when you can make a difference in someone’s life.”

The new marker, surrounded by red and white impatiens and small American flags, is the result of work done in a joint effort between the Village of Pinecrest, which purchased and installed the marker, and the Pinecrest Garden Club.

Participating in and attending the ceremony were Village of Pinecrest Mayor Joseph Corradino, state and local Florida Federation of Garden Club officers and members, Village of Pinecrest officials, and local garden club members.

Eduardo Hussey played bagpipes including “Amazing Grace” at the end of the ceremony. Soloist Julie Todaro sang a beautiful rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Luther Jones, Ret. U.S. Navy Commander and Chaplain of American Legion Post 31, gave the invocation.

And Palmetto Middle School student Oliver Diez, Jr., 12, performed an emotional “Taps” on trumpet.

“This event was a year in the making,” Armstrong said. “It came together beautifully.”

Armstrong and Cecilia Prahl are co-chairs of the Pinecrest Garden Club Blue Star Committee.

Kelley Schild, president of the Pinecrest Garden Club, spoke of the importance of the day and the club’s pledge to help the Village of Pinecrest maintain the marker into the future.

Also participating were Jean Hawa who gave a history of the Blue Star Memorial Markers that are posted on U.S. Highways across the country.

And Rosita Aristoff, who awoke early to travel from Stuart to the ceremony with her husband Greg, gave the dedication address.

“I’ve been doing these for six years,” she said. As Chair of the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs Blue Star Memorial Committee, Rosita Aristoff also speaks at the nine national cemeteries in Florida where memorial markers are placed in remembrance of those who gave their lives in military service.

“We honor those fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, sons, and daughters who have sacrificed their tomorrows for our today,” she said. “We must never take them for granted and we must never forget them.”

“The sign you see is for information. The plants nearby are the real tribute to create a ‘living memorial’ for the veterans,” Greg Aristoff said. He said garden clubs, starting with the National Garden Club in New Jersey in 1945, have formed a “ribbon of living memorials across the country.”

Rosita and Greg Aristoff are also involved in helping to locate missing Blue Star Memorial Markers.

“In Miami, there used to be a marker in the median of U.S. 1 in front of the Suniland Shopping Center. When the highway was widened it disappeared,” Aristoff said.

“It was intentionally made to look weathered and it had a red sun in the center built in. Maybe the construction workers thought it was an old piece of junk.”

A March 12, 1967, dedication ceremony invitation he and Rosita found said the Tao Ti High School Gardeners placed the memorial sponsored by the Dig and Dream Garden Club, now disbanded.

“I wonder if anyone from Pinecrest knows anything about this historical marker’s whereabouts or anything about the Tao Ti High School Gardeners.”

About 20 to 25 Blue Star Memorial Markers are still missing in Florida.

Chamber music play-in

Musicians, of all ages, can meet and perform with other musicians at the upcoming Chamber Music Play-In. The event, at the University of Miami Frost School of Music, is the first ever organized by the Donna E. Shalala MusicReach Program.

According to the Associated Chamber Music Players, “A play-in is an event where musicians meet, often for the first time, and ‘read’ chamber music for pure pleasure. Play-ins are not performances, but some include non-playing listeners.”

The event is part of ACMP Worldwide Play-In that celebrates Beethoven’s 250th birthday. The Play-In at UM is being held a week before the global event, March 7-8, because of spring break.

Musicians of all ages and skill levels, from beginner to professional, are invited to join in to create a musical day of collaboration and learning 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., March 1, at the Frost School of Music, 5501 San Amaro Dr., Coral Gables.

Space is limited. Visit http://bit.ly/ShalalaACMP to register. Food and drink will be provided and volunteers are welcome.

Symphonic band in concert

Our Greater Miami Symphonic Band, under the baton of Robert Longfield, will present its annual Family Concert for all to enjoy at 4 p.m., Feb. 23, Pinecrest Gardens Banyan Bowl, 11000 Red Rd.

The “Music for Your Imagination” event will include favorites like Stravinsky’s “Firebird Suite,” Williams’ “Fantasy of Flight,” and Moss’ “Star Trek Through the Years” as well as “Italian Holiday” by Longfield.

Tickets are $15 for adults, and $5 for students and children over five. Purchase in advance at www.GMSB.org or at the box office day of the concert. Admission to the Gardens is free after 3 p.m. on concert day with a ticket.

Send us summer camp info

Believe it or not, it’s time to start planning for summer camp. Every year, the Herald publishes a story and list of some of the camps available to students in our Miami-Dade County community. But we need your help.

Please send camp information to christinammayo@gmail.com by Monday, March 9. Include camp name, dates, times, camper ages, prices, registration website, and a brief description of what is included. Photos of previous camps can also be attached to your email.

Walk for the animals

Spend your extra day this year on a purposeful walk to help our furry friends.

The Humane Society of Greater Miami will hold its 21st annual Walk for the Animals starting at 8:30 a.m., Feb. 29, at Maurice A. Ferré Park, 1075 Biscayne Blvd.

The goal is “to bring friends, families, companies, and clubs together for a howling good time to help raise much-needed funds to benefit the homeless dogs and cats of Miami.” More that 3,000 of Miami’s most passionate animal-lovers and their dogs are expected to gather for this good cause.

Visit www.walkfortheanimalsmiami.com or call 305-749-1825 to register and for more on all the events, contests, and prizes available for you and your pup.

If you have news for this column, write to ChristinaMMayo@gmail.com.

This story was originally published February 20, 2020 at 6:00 AM.