News & Views of Phillips Since 1976
Thursday December 25th 2025
On a Cool 145th Memorial Day Thoughts and Emotions Gathered and “Warmed” by Music, a Call to Youth, and Challenge for Peace “without a Shot-Fired
By Sue Hunter Weir
It was hard to tell whether summer has passed us by or is just late in coming. Memorial Day was a gray, somewhat chilly day this year. The crowd wasn”'t as big as it has been on sunnier, warmer days but that didn”'t dampen their enthusiasm. People have turned out at Pioneers and Soldiers Memorial Cemetery for 145 years to honor those who have died during wars. Given that purpose, it is for the most part a solemn event–except for the music. There is nothing quite like a John Phillips Sousa march to get a crowd tapping their toes. The Seward Concert Band helps set the mood for the day with marches and patriotic songs. When the band plays a medley of service songs veterans of the Army, Coast Guard, Marines, Air Force and Navy rise in turn, salute the flag and are applauded by an appreciative audience.
This year”'s observance was a blend of old and new. The words and the music were all familiar.… Read the rest “On a Cool 145th Memorial Day Thoughts and Emotions Gathered and “Warmed” by Music, a Call to Youth, and Challenge for Peace “without a Shot-Fired”
Spears and Commodore, at the Dakota and in the Community
By Raymond Jackson
Dennis Spears and Ginger Commodore performed at The Dakota Jazz Club and Restaurant May 18th. They sang many popular melodies, including a stirring rendition of, “Unchanged Melody”. .
After receiving a personal backstage greeting representing The Alley Newspaper, I asked about their hometowns. Spears said, “I was born in Toledo, Ohio, but I grew up in Mangham, Louisiana. It”'s near the more familiar Monroe, Louisiana, so I say I”'m from Monroe.”
They performed Louisiana style rhythms and scatting dedicated to Sue McClain who had died the day before. McClain had many remarkable and exciting accomplishments over the many years as a musical promoter for entertainers and audiences here in the Twin Cities.
Spears said, “I was raised by my grandparents in Louisiana, but I have been here for 33 years, making me a Minnesnowtan, or whatever you call those foolish enough to stay here and survive the winters.”
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THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING MAYDAY!
Thank you, thank you, thank you to the community for our 39th Annual MayDay Parade & Festival! One of the best ever, attended by 50-70,000 on glorious May 5, 2013.
Here”'s the results of our lowered budget this year and our appeal for increased community sustaining support.
- $80,850 – Individual donations (including Seward Co-op”'s “round up” and MayDay Makers giving)
- 9,300 – ad sales
- $7,500 – join in and info tables
- $18,350 – Food vendors
- $116,000 – income
- $93,500 ”“ personnel
- $7,400 ”“ print/postage/promotion
- $8,100 ”“ rental equipment/vehicles
- $2,300 ”“ supplies
- $4,100 ”“ permits
- $8,600 ”“ all else
- $124,000 – expenses
So an additional $8,000 will make it all good.
To ensure many MayDays to come as we enter our 40th year, you can:
Donate through our web site.
Use the MayDay appeal envelope you might have received and/or mail us a check.
Share the magic of MayDay with others: post your pictures and MayDay stories on our Facebook page and see/share the many recent posts there already.
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