Celebrating Springfield's Biggest, Best and Brightest

It's time to celebrate our country's Independence Day with a Star Spangled Springfield on July 4.  We are excited to be hosting the 215th Army Band of the Massachusetts Army National Guard and then seeing the night sky bursting with color.
 
A special thank you for all those who will be working - Springfield Police, Fire, DPW, American Medical Response, Massachusetts State Police, Massachusetts Emergency Preparedness, Amtrak Police and so many more to make the festivities safe for all of us.
 
Happy July 4th!

- Judy Matt 
President
 
Star Spangled Springfield
 
Festivities will begin in Riverfront Park at 7pm with welcoming comments by Mayor Domenic Sarno, Colonel Peter Green, Vice Commander of the 104th Fighter Group, Dennis Duquette, Head of Community Responsibility for MassMutual, and Spirit of Springfield President, Judy Matt.  Then, the stage will be filled by the country's second oldest Army Band, the 215th Army Band of the Massachusetts Army National Guard.
 
Under the leadership of Commander Stephen Martins, the band has put together a musical line-up that will include performances by Minuteman Brass Band, Brigade Big Band, fife and drum, rock band and ending with the full concert band.
 
At 9:30pm, all eyes will be on the skies over the Memorial Bridge as Fireworks by Grucci unleashes their pyrotechnic wizardry.  The glistening waterfalls, the brilliant bursts and the amazing special effects will be choreographed to music broadcast on Mix 93.1 FM. 
 
Special thanks to David Van Buskirk and his team of pyrotechnicians from Fireworks by Grucci who have been working with members of the Springfield DPW to fill the firing tubes that will be launched from three flatbed trailers on the Memorial Bridge.

For more information, visit SpiritofSpringfield.org.
Union Station Opened with Style
 
The ladies were glamorous.  The gentlemen were dapper.  The décor was divine and the dinner was delicious.  It is a night that will be long-remembered by the 550 guests who attended Springfield's Union Station Gala on Saturday, June 24. 
 
Guests were greeted by Executive Park's Valet service, students from American International College and a 1930 Cadillac from George Holman's collection.  They socialized under a grand tent provided by Michael's Party Rental before they moved in to the station's main concourse.  They were awed by the lighting designed by JX2 Productions and the lit centerpieces created by Flowers! Flowers!  Dinner featured elaborate buffets prepared by the Sheraton Springfield topped off with individual Limoncello cakes made by Cerrato's Bakery.
 
The evening was sponsored by  AECOM Tishman, Baystate Health, Bulkley, Richardson and Gelinas, Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, Daniel O'Connell's Sons, Eversource Energy, MassMutual, MGM Springfield, The Republican, Sheraton Springfield, Westfield Bank and the Chicopee Savings Bank Charitable Foundation.

See all the photos online.
 
Gala Honored Chairs and Guests

Springfield's Union Station Gala had a list of chairs and greeters, but the honored guests of the evening were Congressman Richard Neal and Mayor Domenic Sarno.  Congressman Neal had been working for 40 years to see the station reborn as an intermodal transportation center.  Mayor Sarno shared his belief in the project.
 
Congressman Neal and Mayor Sarno were joined on the stage by Governor Charlie Baker, and the event's chairs William Hornbukle, President, MGM Resorts International, who represented James Murren, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, MGM Resorts International, Roger Crandall, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, MassMutual Life Insurance Company, Maura McCaffrey,  President and Chief Executive Officer, Health New England, and William Pepin, President and General Manager, WWLP-22News.
 
Other distinguished guests included Colonel James Suhr, 104th Fighter Wing, Barnes Air National Guard Base, State Senators Michael Brady, Eric Lesser and James Welch, State Representative Angelo Puppolo, Judge Mary Hurley, Massachusetts Governor's Council, Secretary Jay Ash, Massachusetts Office of Housing and Economic Development, and Astrid Glynn, Representing Secretary Stephanie Pollack, Massachusetts Department of Transportation.  From Springfield, there was Police Commissioner John Barbieri, City Councilors Tim Allen, Attorney Michael Fenton, Tim Rooke, Attorney Ken Shea, and Justin Hurst who was joined by his wife School Committee Member Denise Hurst. 
See more photos online.  
Union Station Open House
 
The terrazzo floors were polished.  The murals were dusted off and thousands of visitors came to see Springfield's Union Station hours before it opened for service.  They enjoyed interactive displays by Amherst Belt Railways and the Springfield Museums, a tour of an Amtrak car as well as vehicles from Massachusetts Army National Guard, Peter Pan Bus Lines and PVTA.  Authors, Margaret Boyle, Joseph Carvalho, Wayne Phaneuf, signed copies of "Saving Union Station," a book published by The Republican.
 
Congressman Neal and Mayor Sarno addressed a full concourse and was joined by Kevin Kennedy, Springfield's Chief Development Officer, and Helen Ambrogi, the widow of John V. Ambrogi who served as Union Station's last manager.
 
Open House sponsors were The Colvest Group, GZA GeoEnvironmental, Holyoke Medical Center, Raymond James Associates, Related Beal, Republic Services, Williams Distributing and WWLP-22News.

See the more photos online.  
Golf Classic Supported Spirit of Springfield

They came in fours.  They picked up their clubs and swung them in support of the Spirit of Springfield.  The annual Golf Classic, sponsored by Western Mass News and many more, was held June 2, at Franconia Golf Course.  

The tournament got more than 120 golfers on the course as well as several area mayors who participated in a putting contest.

The date for the 2018 tournament has already been set for Friday, June 1.  Be sure to mark your calendar.
More photos of the outing online.
Breaking News!
Bright Nights 12 Days of Christmas Coming July 12!

Purchase minimum of 12 Bright Nights car passes for just $12 each.  Offer ends after 12 days on July 23.
In This Issue
Star Spangled Springfield
Union Station Opened with Style
Gala Honored Chairs and Guests
Union Station Open House
Golf Classic
Guest Column - Dennis Duquette, MassMutual
Sponsorship Opportunity
Guest Column

Dennis Duquette,
Head of Community Responsibility, MassMutual

It is that time of year again - the Star Spangled Springfield July 4th celebration! The event's live musical entertainment and astounding fireworks truly serve to commemorate our country's independence and create a sense of community. This annual tradition continues to be one of the many events that make our city and region so great. With more than 100,000 people expected to watch the show, this event always provides a fun, entertaining experience for all.
 
The Fourth of July is an important time to recognize our history as a country and a city. MassMutual has been proud to call Springfield home for 166 years and giving back to our community remains a priority for us. Since 2006, we have been a proud sponsor of Springfield's July 4th festivities and are excited to once again support this world-class celebration. It is a wonderful time to come together as a community and we hope to see neighbors, friends, and family from across the region come out to enjoy this spectacular celebration.
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The Spirit of Springfield is a private, non-profit corporation
which produces high-quality, large-scale events in the city of Springfield.
Our mission is to promote community events and encourage civic pride.

Celebrating Springfield's  Biggest, Best and Brightest!