Marco Cruise Club Welcome Back Party

The theme for this year's Marco Cruise Club Welcome Back Party was a patriotic red, white, and blue. Everyone arrived with smiles, saying how glad they were to be back in Florida and out of the cold up North.

Members enjoyed catching up with each other and the delicious buffet created by Mission BBQ of Naples. After dinner, a few activities were planned that encourage communication and enhance camaraderie between both new and old members. It worked. Members took the challenge and competed enthusiastically. The first activity required eight members to join together and form four teams of two and compete in a blanket balloon toss, eliminating one team at a time until an overall winner was declared. It got people up off their feet, burned off some calories, and provided an opportunity to make new friends. As the sun went down, the bistro lights came on, and the last few activities included nautical bingo, a big red cup restack, and three drawings! The activities were completed and prizes awarded.

A big thank you goes to the event hosts, Director Karla Patenaude and Vice Commodore Jeff Patenaude. Everything was well planned and executed. The night was a wonderful tribute to the veterans and their families' sacrifices. While members enjoyed the beautiful park, they were reminded that this would not be possible if it were not for the sacrifice of so many. A heartfelt gratitude was felt by all.

And a sincere thanks goes to all persons who continue to support Marco Island's commitment to our beautiful Veterans Memorial Park. We look forward to attending those upcoming events, starting with the Veterans Day celebrations and the rest of the Holiday Season. Happy Holidays, and hope to see you soon.