Fox Run Retirement Community Residents in Michigan Now Working Seemingly Nonstop in Their Woodshop to Build Their Novi Memorial Day Float That Will Honor Military Veterans

NOVI, MI (April 25, 2011) – Twelve Fox Run residents who are members of the retirement community’s woodshop are now working seemingly nonstop to build their campus’ float that will be a part of this year’s Novi Memorial Day Parade. They are driven by pride, purpose and – most of all – patriotism.

The Fox Run float will be a way to honor and thank the military service of veterans from the following wars: World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Sixteen veterans – including five female veterans from World War II -- who live at Fox Run will ride on the float, which will sit atop a four-wheel flatbed trailer that measures 21 feet long and 6 feet wide.

Thirty white, pinewood picket fence posts – each three feet tall and each adorned with red, white and blue bunting and American flags -- will surround the float. The veterans will sit on wooden benches bolted to the trailer. A huge maypole topped with a with a rectangular Stars and Stripes- themed umbrella will keep the veterans protected from the sun.

The float is designed by Fox Run resident Paul Benivegna, a retired automotive design supervisor for Ford Motor Company.
Resident Don Boufford is serving as the engineering consultant for the float.

Benivegna said construction of the float is creating a buzz among Fox Run’s nearly 1,000 residents. “It’s a contagious party,” said Benivegna, who moved to Fox Run from Naples, Florida. “We are proud to be a part of the Novi Memorial Day Parade.

“Mayor Landry challenged us to come up with a float this year that is more comprehensive than our float that was in last year’s parade,” he said. “We are accepting the challenge and are making it happen.”

Among the new features of this year’s Fox Run float is a plywood red, white and blue Eagle whose head will face the veterans.
Resident Chet Tarczynski will serve as the Fox Run flag bearer and will walk alongside the float for the length of the the 2.5 mile parade route. He will lead a contingent of the following vehicles that will also transport veterans: a 1934 Ford Woodi station wagon, a Fox Run bus and a convertible.

Combined, more than 50 veterans will participate in the Fox Run float and accompanying vehicle contingent. Hundreds of Fox Run residents will line the parade route to cheer them on.

‘Everyone is looking forward to this year’s Novi Memorial Day Parade,” said Benivegna. “We can’t wait for it to begin.”

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ABout Fox Run:
Fox Run, which is managed by Erickson Living, has nearly 1,000 residents. It is located at 41000 13 Mile Road, Novi, MI 48377.

Mel Tansill
Public Affairs Manager
Fox Run
41000 13 Mile Road
Novi, MI 48377
Cell: 410-241-7614
EMail: Mel.Tansill@Erickson.com

This release was published on openPR.