HYANNIS – Early Sunday morning, military personnel from several branches of U.S. Armed Forces descended on Kmart Plaza on Route 132. They came in military vehicles, motorcycles, on foot, by truck, and in private cars, many of which were Corvettes.
They were supported by Boy Scout Troop 77 from Brewster, and the Old Colony Unit of Young Marines based in Plymouth and even Air support was provided by the Massachusetts Air National Guard from Otis ANGB with a low level flyover.
Quantum Communications was there to provide “air support” with several of their key personalities such as Cat and Kevin Matthews from WCOD, Jen Arra from Cool 102, and Steph Viva and Dan Duran from 96.3 the Rose. It isn’t every day that military units invade a Cape Cod Sopping Plaza, but it is even more unusual that they all are under the command of a 14 year old named Dylan DeSilva; a Boy Scout, Young Marine and Philanthropist.
Three years ago Dylan founded Cape Cod 4 Troops that has to date sent 1800 care packages to our fighting men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. He also organized Troops in the Spotlight, an annual event held each year at – You guessed it –Kmart Plaza. Today’s invasion was not an attack, but a tribute to our troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan the target of Dylan’s laudable efforts. HyannisNews urges everyone to come down and meet the troops on hand and lend a hand or make a contribution to help make the lives of our dedicated troops defending us overseas a little more comfortable – a little more like home.
Here is the schedule for the 24 hour event Troops in the Spotlight reprinted here from http://www.capecod4thetroops.com/
11:30 Sunday May 27th thru noon Monday May 28that the Kmart Plaza Parking Lot in Hyannis
11:00 Arrival of the Cape Cod Corvette Club
11:15 Watch as the motorcycle groups Cape Cod Leathernecks and the Patriot Guard Riders roll in to start the ceremony.
11:30am: WCOD DJ Kevin Matthews host the Opening Ceremony
Old Colony Young Marines
Brewster Boy Scout Troop 77
Listen as local band Bon Voyager sings the National Anthem
Gold Star mom Cynthia Deslauries and family lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance
Guest Speakers:
State Representative Jeff Perry
Kevin Whelan from WRKO's Pundit Review and Jeff Beatty
Then watch at noon when the first group of our “Troops” takes the stage Sunday
1:20pm: Watch as F-15's from Otis perform a Fly Over
Send a Video Message of support to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan
Meet and Greet members of our military.
Watch as members of the Army and Marines perform physical training exercises and try their obstacle course!
Check out the display of Military Vehicles
Bring in your donations for the care package or shop at Kmart during Troops in the Spotlight and receive a 10% discount on items from our donation list.
Make sure you say hello to Torri and the donation tent posse.
Sunday 5:30pm : watch as the Barnstable County Sheriff's Department Color Guard marches in and stands at attention for one hour.
Meet Personalities and Staff from Quantum of Cape Cod
Bring in cards and letters to be sent in care packages to our soldiers, and sign your name to our "We Support You" banners.
Lots for fun for the kids with free balloons and temporary tattoos!!!
Watch the slide show of photos sent from our troops serving Iraq and Afghanistan and make sure you see the Cape Cod Cares for our Troops scrap books full of photos, cards and letters we have received.
Be sure to be on hand for the grand finale at Noon on Monday.