On June 12, 2026, the Choctawhatchee Bay Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution hosted its “America 250 Gala & Drone Show” event at the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Rigdon Center in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.

The gala was well attended and many of the guest wore colonial styled costumes.  The evenings entertainment centered around the signing of the Declaration of Independence, some little known facts, and 56 local gentlemen represented all 56 signers for the reenactment of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.  The evening event ended with a large birthday cake rolled down the aisle as  everyone sang “Happy Birthday America” led by Skylar Smith & Chevon Corlew-Coleman.  The drone show followed as well as music by Clinch46.

The master of ceremony for this event was Bernard Johnson from Florida Power & Light, with co-presenters Mel Ponder from Northwest Florida State College, and Ginger Madden with the State Attorney office of the 1st Judicial Circuit of Florida.  Check out the cast list further down the page to see who else represented who.

Now it’s time to sit back and enjoy this encore event video.

Video Chapter Points:

0:00:00 Welcome
0:03:27 Entrance of the 56 Signers
0:04:18 Presentation of the Colors
0:05:04 Amercian Creed
0:06:34 Blessing by Mel Ponder
0:09:07 Dinner Time
0:10:38 Act 1 – Fun Facts of Amercia’s Founding Fathers
0:14:42 Act 2
0:15:01 African Americans in the Revolutionary War
0:17:33 Spiritual Awaken in America
0:20:33 Revolutionary Women
0:24:11 Act 3
0:25:43 General George Washington
0:26:27 Introduction of the Delegates
0:27:22 New Hampshire Delegates
0:29:15 Massachusetts Delegates
0:31:57 Rhode Island Delegates
0:33:09 Connecticut Delegates
0:35:48 New York Delegates
0:38:23 New Jersey Delegates
0:41:33 Pennsylvania Delegates
0:47:48 Delaware Delegates
0:49:52 Maryland Delegates
0:52:18 Virginia Delegates
0:56:41 North Carolina Delegates
0:58:45 South Carolina Delegates
1:01:20 Georgia Delegates
1:04:31 The Star-Spangled Banner
1:07:47 Honorable Patt Maney – Toast
1:12:04 Arrival of the Cake & Happy Birthday America
1:13:47 Freedom Song
1:17:36 Drone Show

The Program:

Cast:

Learn more about the Revolutionary battles here: www.battlefields.org/learn/revolutionary-war

Video Production by www.ProLiveVideo.com

The LIVE STREAM for the 2023 NWFSC Raiders home games for the Panhandle Conference can be seen here: https://nwfraiders.com/multimedia/WATCH_LIVE

Check out “The Story Behind the Story” event video for the 75th USAF Anniversary Community Celebration, which took place on September 13, 2022 at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center at Northwest Florida State College in Niceville, Florida. This event celebrates the USAF military operations that were supported by both Eglin Air Force base and the Special Operations units of Hurlburt Field. Hosted by the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce, this event provides two panels of service men & women who participated in several notable USAF operations, including operations in WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Grenada, Iran, Afghanistan, and the Obama Bin Laden Raid.

* Chapter points can easily be selected by watching this video directly on YouTube

00:00 Opening Video – USAF Aircraft Fly-bys
02:09 Official Welcome – Ted Corcoran
02:45 Posting of the Colors
03:33 National Anthem
05:35 Invocation
06:58 Event Overview
08:34 Introduction of Dale Dye
10:43 Dale Dye Movie Compilation Video
13:56 Eglin AFB Background History
14:51 Dr Devin Stephenson Introduction
17:35 Florida Representative Patt Maney Introduction
21:44 Recognition Distinguished Guests
23:01 JCOS Senior Enlisted Advisor Ramon Colon-Lopez Introduction
25:32 Recognition of Notable Local Veterans
26:57 Ted Introduces 1st Panel
30:13 Cindy Cole Chal (Doolittle Raiders)
48:29 Dale Dye Stories (Korean War)
1:13:05 Col Howard Hill (Vietnam War)
1:24:54 Col Larry Ropka (Sun Tay Raid)
1:38:17 Col Bill Keeler (Vietnam Refugees)
1:47:34 Sponsors Recognition & Jerry Williams EFCU
1:51:54 Introduction of 2nd Panel of Speakers
1:52:36 CMSgt Bill Walter – Operation Eagle Claw (Iran Hostage Rescue)
2:00:42 Lt Col Kirby Locklear – Operation Urgent Fury (Grenada)
2:08:35 Lt Col Corby Martin – Operation Desert Storm (Iraq)
2:19:06 Lt Col Allison Black – Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan)
2:27:24 The “MOAB” Story (Bill Walter)
2:29:05 Task Force Dagger & ODA 595 Horse Soldiers Event
2:30:49 Lt Gen Marshal “Brad” Webb – (Bin Laden Raid)
2:41:33 The Voices of NWFSC – America the Beautiful
2:47:02 The Air Force Song Sing-Along

EMCEE
– Ted Corcoran, CEO – Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce

SPONSORS
– Eglin Federal Credit Union
– The Boeing Company
– Northwest Florida State College
– Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce

THANKS TO
– Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce Staff: Seth Luttrell, Rachelle Graves, Dayna Stinebiser, Chrissy Flanigan, Debbie Dodge
– Mattie Kelly Arts Center Staff and Volunteers
– The Voices of Northwest Florida State College
– Air Force Public Affairs/Historians: Dawn Hart, Amy Nicholson, Shelby Pritchett, Jasmine Porterfield, Alan Landers

SCRIPT
– Bill Walters

LODGINGS
– The Island Resort;
– Holiday Inn Resort-Fort Walton Beach
– Hilton Garden Inn Fort Walton Beach

PROMOTION
– Frances Roy Agency

VIDEO PRODUCTION
– RJ Murdock, Emerald Coast TV