Holly council approves Patriot Week Festival

#phocagallerypiclens 2-phocagallerypiclenscode-Community/janet leslie patriot week.jpg

Janet Leslie

HOLLY, Michigan –Village residents will have a reason to celebrate in September after members of Holly Village Council approved the request for a week-long Patriot’s Week celebration to occur, Sept. 11 – 17 in the village of Holly.

Patriot Week renews America’s spirit by celebrating the first principles, founding fathers and other patriots, vital documents and speeches, and flags that make America the greatest nation in world history. Judge Michael Warren, who along with his daughter, Leah Warren, co-created Patriots Week, said many of current holidays have become overly commercialized or have lost their deeper meaning, causing the need for citizens to  invigorate their appreciation and understanding of the American spirit.

Anchored by the key dates of Sept. 11 (the anniversary of the terrorists attacks) and Sept. 17 (Constitution Day, the anniversary of the signing of the Constitution by our founding fathers), the schedule for each day has a separate focus.

In a meeting held last week, Warren and other Patriot Week officials including Oakland County Commissioner Bob Hoffman, and many interested citizens and business owners met at the BlackThorn Pub to discuss the possibilities.

During that meeting, Hoffman’s campaign manager, Janet Leslie outlined the specifics of the week-long festival including patriotic events like a wreath laying ceremony at Great Lakes National Cemetery, a parade and the Patriot’s Podium, as well as a Patriot’s Week picnic in downtown Holly complete with a refreshments tent sponsored by the BlackThorn Pub and a stage to house musical acts, patriotic speeches and more.

Hoffman and Leslie pitched the idea to council members during the June 14 Village Council meeting, asking them to recognize and designate Sept. 11-17 as Holly's Patriot Week Festival, and also asking them to grant street closures for S. Saginaw St. and Battle Alley periodically during that time.

In a vote of 7-0, council approved the request, making Holly Michigan’s first community to recognize the week and sponsor a week-long celebration.