The Glorious Fourth Celebrated with Friends and Neighbors at the Fort Harrison
Embracing both the birth of the United States and the tropical nature of Florida, the Church of Scientology welcomed 127 guests for a tropical-themed 4th of July party.
Clearwater, FL, July 12, 2014 (Newswire.com) - The Church of Scientology, Flag, opened the doors of the historic Fort Harrison this 4th of July for a celebration with neighbors and friends. 127 guests assembled in the Crystal Ballroom of the retreat for friendship and celebration.
The award-winning chefs of the Fort Harrison crafted a “Cheeseburger in Paradise” build-a-burger bar with six kinds of hamburgers and a slew of toppings. This was followed by an old-time radio-style reading by the East Coast Golden Age Theater, ice cream sundaes and Clearwater’s spectacular waterfront fireworks display.
"This is the fourth year in a row that the Church has held an event like this, and it is a great opportunity to celebrate such an important day with friends."
Lisa Mansell
In keeping with the tropical theme, the tables were decorated with shallow trays of sand, containing a treasure chest, shells, flowers and faux ‘doubloons’.
When dinner was done, Lisa Mansell, the Community Affairs Director for the Church welcomed the guests, saying, “In honor of America’s independence, founding father John Adams wrote: ‘I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance…It ought to be celebrated with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.’ Though we don’t have bonfires, we are celebrating in Florida style – burgers in paradise, ice cream sundaes and fireworks.”
This was followed by the Golden Age Theater’s production of “The Drowned City,” a pulp fiction story by best-selling author L. Ron Hubbard. Taking place off the coast of St. Kitts and Nevis, “The Drowned City” is a tale of sunken treasure, merciless privateers and gritty heroes. The cast for the show was Dylan Cefail, Eric Cefail and Nathaniel Barragan. The show was produced by Joanie Sigal and directed by Kathy Sweigart.
A dramatic thunder and lightning storm, which began during the show, ran its course by the time the first fireworks shot in to the sky from Clearwater Harbor. Guests enjoyed the spectacle from the open-air tenth-floor terrace of the Fort Harrison.
“This is the fourth year in a row that the Church has held an event like this,” said Ms. Mansell, “and it is a great opportunity to celebrate such an important day with friends.”