This promises to be a major event to kick off the 'activist' season in Florida. The Patriots Press is proud to support and urge all of our friends and readers to attend this event.  

Saturday, 3/1/14 at the River Church on 3738 River International Drive in Tampa, Florida.  This is an all day event starting at 10:00 until 5:00.   

Publisher's note:  I have and will continue to opine about this subject; pedophilia has been growing and is becoming rampant at every level of society.  In this case, the perpetrator juan carlos chavez, (caps intentionally not used) raped and murdered his victim, a 9 year old boy 18 years ago.  

It has taken these 18 years to exhaust all the appeals and back and forth contentions about the constitutionality of lethal injection in the State of Florida.  The bottom line is, this monster admitted what he did and led authorities to the dismembered body of his victim; there is no question as to his guilt in this horrific crime, and I for one cannot fathom why he or any such animal is allowed to drain the resources of this or any other state.  

The execution is scheduled for 6 PM this evening.  God may forgive him, however civilized society cannot and should not.  May he and all such rabid predators rot in hell.

Fox News:  A man who raped and killed a 9-year-old boy from Miami-Dade County 18 years ago, spurring the boy's parents to work for enhanced sexual predator confinement laws, is scheduled to die Wednesday by lethal injection.

Juan Carlos Chavez is scheduled for execution at 6 p.m. at Florida State Prison in Starke, Fla.

Chavez abducted Jimmy Ryce at gunpoint after the boy got off a school bus on Sept. 11, 1995, in rural southwestern Miami-Dade County. Trial testimony showed Chavez raped the boy and then shot him when he tried to escape, dismembering his body and putting the parts in concrete-covered planters.

Despite an intensive search by police and volunteers, regular appeals for help through the media and distribution of flyers about Jimmy, it wasn't until three months later that Chavez's landlady discovered the boy's book bag and the murder weapon -- a revolver Chavez had stolen from her house -- in the trailer where Chavez lived. Chavez later confessed to police and led them to Jimmy's remains.

Click for complete story...

It’s that time of year again in So. Florida; mid-January, Florida’s harsh two day long winter blast is a distant memory and we’ve all thawed out.  Now it’s time to get ready for Glazed Donut Cheese Burgers, Elephant Ears, Deep Fried Everything, rides, agricultural displays, and just a ton of great family entertainment at the 2014 South Florida Fair.

I took a walk through today, because I like to get a glance at the set up operations, rides being constructed and tested, the camaraderie of the vendors, and some of the craziness that goes on behind the scenes.  One of my favorite places to check out during such visits is the main pavilion.  

The theme of the Fair this year is New York City and when you enter the Fair Grounds, you will instantly be transported from West Palm Beach to Times Square, and once past that gate it gets even better.  Among other things that await visitors inside the Pavilion is a mock-up of the NYC Subway System and Rockefeller Center complete with a working Ice Arena.  Even a guy from Boston like me can appreciate that.

As you enter the Pavilion right now, there is a 200 ton pile of sand at center court which visitors will be able to watch sculpted and transformed into replica of the Statue of Liberty right before their eyes.  Moving along to the other side of the room is the theatre where you’ll be able to enjoy among other acts, Catherine Hickland, Comedy Hypnotist, (there’s a show I’ll be sure to watch, several times even).  And there will be many others including New York on Ice on the other side of the massive pavilion.

You won’t want to miss the “Ham Bone Express Pig Races,” or what I like to call ‘rolling bacon’ on opening day at 2:00 pm. 

There is so much more to see, explore, visit, and taste.  Most important for right now, cancel any other plans, check the website and plan your visit(s) so that you don’t miss anything.  The South Florida Fair is always a crowd pleaser, and this year will be no exception.  So gather up the family, jump in the car, and enjoy this very special, very different, once a year opportunity to take in the sounds, aromas, and fun of the South Florida Fair.  

The fun begins this Friday, January 17, 2014 at 11:45 am.  See you there!

The Patriots Press covers a lot of events during any given year; few of them are as near and dear to my heart as Wreathes Across America.  It is a special day that is the culmination of countless hours, phone calls, hard work, and tears from Maine to Hawaii and Florida to Alaska, and everywhere in between.  In the end, millions of the graves of our fallen heroes from every war and every generation are adorned with a simple wreath, a singularly private holiday memory that acknowledges that the individual in each grave is no longer present with their loved ones, and a huge symbol of the spirit of patriotic Americans that have not and never will forget them. 

When I arrived at the National Cemetery in Lake Worth around 10:30 I was thrilled to see so many cars and people already there preparing to join the hundreds of thousands across America in this undertaking.  We were blessed to be able to do so under the bright sunny skies of South Florida while many others braved freezing weather in wintry conditions.  It didn’t matter, because in the end, this isn’t about we who were doing the honoring, it is about those we came to honor, and this is the very least we can do today.

As always, the group was greatly supported nationwide by Walmart Corporation who supplies thousands of wreathes, the trucks and drivers to haul them, and all amenities for everyone on hand when the trucks were unloaded on Friday in preparation of today’s events.  Simply getting there is also an event with hundreds of motorcycles, made up of Patriot Guard Riders and other groups escorting those trucks all along the routes to the various National Cemeteries.

At precisely 12:00, there was a one minute long moment of silence done in collaboration with all of the other ceremonies across America.  During that moment, there was a flyover by a vintage ‘Huey’ helicopter which broke the silence as a brief and understandable applause ensued.  

At the conclusion of the very brief and wonderful invocation, speeches, and benediction, those in the gathering were asked to not simply place wreathes on the grave stones, but to reflect for a moment on the sacrifice of the person buried there.  This was a teaching moment not only for the children in attendance, but also every adult

There were many highlights to this day, and I can’t even begin to mention them all, however, besides the well-deserved and extended standing ovation for past POW Air Force Captain Bill Arcuri as he placed his wreath at the flag, there was one other person in attendance that got my attention.  We were honored to have a 94 year old WWII Navy Vet in attendance.  Mr. Bosse was led to the guest/speaker tent, and I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house when he was recognized.  

As the event closed out with the final note of ‘Taps’ wafting off into the warm Florida afternoon, I came away from this year’s event in somber, reflective silence.  The Patriots Press salutes all of the companies and volunteers that devote time, effort, and resources to this amazing event every year, and as always we salute all of our men and women currently in uniform, and those who have fallen during their self-less devotion in the service of our nation.