Latest news with #Rosies
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
104-year-old WWII veteran Jack Jones leads Sterling Heights' 2025 Memorial Day parade
First came a thrilling flyover by a historic Tuskegee Airmen World War II aircraft. Then came 104-year-old WWII veteran Jack Jones, who led this year's Sterling Heights Memorial Day parade as grand marshal. Jones enlisted in the Navy in 1943 and served as a medical assistant aboard the USS Meriwether throughout the Pacific campaign until the end of WWII. Sterling Heights celebrated Memorial Day on Monday, May 26, with its 46th annual ceremony and parade, featuring Jones — a resident of the city. He kickstarted the parade while cruising down Utica Road in the back of a bright red convertible, drawing applause from a crowd that stretched for nearly two miles. 'The Sterling Heights Memorial Day Ceremony and Parade is one of our city's signature events and has earned a reputation as one of the most meaningful and well-attended in the region,' said Mayor Michael Taylor in a news release ahead of the event. 'Memorial Day isn't just a long weekend — it's a time to honor the sacrifice and courage of the men and women who served our nation." This year's parade theme was 'We Are One: Honoring Our Past, Uniting Our Future.' Alongside veterans, the event featured community groups, high school marching bands, floats, clowns, muscle cars, motorcyclists and more. Families lined the sidewalks to watch all the action as children scrambled for candy tossed by parade volunteers. Eight-year-old twins Spencer and Oliver St. Mosley, attending for the first time, said their favorite parts were the candy and the loud cars revving their engines. "My good friend's grandpa is the grand marshal this year, Jack Jones, so we didn't want to miss seeing him in the parade," said their mom, Susan St. Mosley of Lake Orion, who came with her husband and kids. Not too far behind the convertible carrying Jones, a photograph of his late wife, Vera Rose Matthew — one of the original Rosie the Riveters — was carried by one of about 30 tribute Rosies marching in the parade. For the first time, around 10 of those tribute Rosies were Girl Scouts. Jones and Matthew had been married for 77 years when she died at age 96. More: Silence and prayers mark Lansing's Memorial Day ceremonies at Evergreen, Mt. Hope cemeteries Frances Masters, a living true Rosie who worked at the Willow Run Bomber Plant during the war, also attended and participated in the event. Bette Kenward, vice president of the American Rosie the Riveter Association and granddaughter of an original Rosie, Marion Hely Chapin, emphasized the importance of honoring the women who stepped up while men were away at war. "My mission is to make sure that every single Rosie, whether she's living or has passed away, is honored for their great effort and what they did for our country. We would not have won the war without these ladies," Kenward said. "We need to celebrate each and every single one of them and make sure their legacy stays alive." "It was their patriotism, not empowerment, that got them where they are, but all of us have been empowered because of their patriotism," she added. The parade kicked off from Dodge Park at 10 a.m., continued through the roundabout and headed south along Dodge Park Road. It ended just before 16 Mile Road. For many attendees, the event served as both a moving tribute and a way to pass down the meaning of Memorial Day to the next generation. "We've lived in Sterling Heights for almost five years, and this is our first time at the parade," said Gabriell Welsh, whose 5- and 7-year-old kids also walked in the parade. "It's really cool to start something that we can carry traditionally in honoring our veterans. We have family that served in the armed forces, and so it's just a great way to get to teach (our kids) how to honor them." Nour Rahal is a trending and breaking news reporter. Email her: nrahal@ Follow her on Twitter @nrahal1. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Sterling Heights Memorial Day parade led by 104-year-old WWII veteran
IOL News
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
From Russia with Resonance: Igor Butman Quartet's Triumph at CTIJF 2025
Igor Butman Quartet on the Rosies stage during the 22nd Cape Town International Jazz Festival. Image: Henk Kruger/Independent Newspapers Among the many great performances at the 2025 Cape Town International Jazz Festival, the Igor Butman Quartet carved out a space entirely their own — a realm defined by dazzling virtuosity and the profound art of musical conversation. This performance stood among the most outstanding of the festival. For Igor Butman, Russia's world-renowned tenor saxophonist, playing at this iconic gathering fulfilled a long-held dream. Speaking ahead of his set, he described the opportunity to perform at the CTICC as a 'dream come true.' That sense of awe and gratitude infused the evening — a set that transcended technical brilliance and became a living testament to music's universal spirit. At 63, Butman performed with stamina and expressive breadth that defied expectation. His saxophone tone shifted seamlessly between mischievous play, aching nostalgia, and jubilant celebration — sometimes all within a single phrase. So many dizzying ingredients, so many energetic yet tendered bursts, that one was left wondering whether Butman was not receiving his oxygen and life force from some otherworldly source. He was joined by a trio of fellow maestros: Oleg Akkuratov (piano and vocals), Nikolay Zatolochny (double bass), and Eduard Zizak (drums). Together they fashioned a music of dialogue — listening, teasing, provoking, and elevating one another's ideas with intuitive mastery. Igor Butman Quartet on the Rosies stage during the 22nd Cape Town International Jazz Festival. Image: Henk Kruger/Independent Newspapers The set opened with "Falling Out", a spirited, mock argument between piano and saxophone — a musical skirmish that established the night's ethos of lively, unfolding conversation. Soon after, the quartet paid tribute to Russian popular memory with a high-energy interpretation of a beloved childhood animation theme. The piece was underpinned with intricate complexity, a fast-paced, almost march-like beat merging with soaring, high-energy saxophone runs. Butman's phrasing captured both innocence and sophisticated wit, while Akkuratov's piano painted vivid flashes of nostalgia. Zizak's drumming provided the kinetic heart of the evening — explosive yet precise, elastic yet controlled. His dynamic sensitivity gave the quartet's music urgency without ever overpowering its inner lyricism. A soulful rendering of "Mississippi Dreams" revealed the group's lyrical tenderness. Akkuratov's velvet-fingered piano wove meditative, resonant lines across the soundscape, while Zatolochny's bass shaped the harmonic ground with understated authority. Blind from birth, Akkuratov's playing rose from a profound internal vision, sculpting emotion into every phrase. Midway through the performance, Akkuratov took the microphone to sing a slow Russian ballad. His voice, both fragile and resilient, carried the melody with understated sincerity. As the piece unfolded, the quartet's improvisational energy gradually transformed the texture: the ballad, initially tender and solemn, was underpinned by a reconstructive swing feel, infused with a rising pulse of high-energy rhythms and intricate interplay. This reconstruction allowed the piece to breathe and evolve, lifting it from its melancholic origins into a vibrant, shifting exploration. Later, a slow, saxophone-led piece, an original titled Nostalgia, unfolded with aching beauty. Butman's long, shimmering lines suspended time itself, floating over Akkuratov's delicate piano voicings and Zatolochny's lyrical bass murmurs. Nostalgia was followed by "I Love You Baby", another vivid showcase intercepted with magnificent solos, allowing each musician to stretch, provoke, and reflect in turn. In a moving gesture of connection to the Cape Town audience, Akkuratov also sang Malaika, the beloved Swahili love song. His careful pronunciation and heartfelt delivery created a rare moment of unguarded communion, a bridge between continents built through pure feeling. Igor Butman Quartet on the Rosies stage during the 22nd Cape Town International Jazz Festival. Image: Henk Kruger/Independent Newspapers The climactic moment arrived with Buratino — the Russian adaptation of Pinocchio. The quartet hurled themselves into a whirlwind of sound, Butman's saxophone darting and spiralling with gleeful abandon, Zizak's drumming erupting in controlled, volcanic bursts. The piece was frenetic, intricate, and exhilarating — a masterclass in creative abandon harnessed by sharp intellect. Throughout the evening, Zatolochny's bass grounded the ensemble's most daring flights with melodic strength and rhythmic surety, his playing the invisible architecture supporting the music's ever-changing forms. The Igor Butman Quartet achieved luminous artistry rarely encountered: transforming a concert into a living act of conversation — playful, profound, and intellectually exhilarating. Their performance stood as a radiant affirmation of jazz's highest purpose: to create living spaces where memory, imagination, culture, and spirit converge. Among the many voices and visions at the 2025 Cape Town International Jazz Festival, the Igor Butman Quartet lit up a space with world-class artistry that will not be easily forgotten. By Gillian Schutte
IOL News
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Jazzy affair: Renowned Russian saxophonist, Igor Butman, wows jazz lovers at CTIJF 2025
Igor Butman Quartet on the Rosies stage during the 22nd Cape Town International Jazz Festival. Image: Henk Kruger/Independent Newspapers Jazz aficionados made sure that they didn't miss out on the lively sounds of renowned Russian saxophonist, Igor Butman, as he took to the Rosies Stage at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF) last night (Saturday, April 26). Together with his quartet, which includes Oleg Akkuratov (piano), Nikolay Zatolochny (double bass) and Eduard Zizak (drums), they delivered an electrifying performance at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC). Lovers of all things jazz are well acquainted with the skill needed to allow for improvisation in music performances. Jazz artists are known for having that expert ear, and musicality, as they would take a rhythm and pass it along to each other - all while keeping their performance beautifully blended. Jazz music thrives through musicianship; this level of skill was on display during Butman and his quartet's performance. Igor Butman Quartet on the Rosies stage during the 22nd Cape Town International Jazz Festival. Image: Henk Kruger/Independent Newspapers Many people in the audience couldn't help but tap along, and groove in their seats, as the melodic sounds rang out on the Rosies Stage, even prompting numerous instances of applause. Addressing the crowd, Butman said: 'We're thankful to Dr (iqbal) Survé for inviting us to this great Cape Town International Jazz Festival…We're very happy to be here in South Africa.' Their music programme featured hits from more than 10 of his albums, and he also told audiences that they were going to be playing some jazz standards, alongside the original material. Ahead of his performance, the globally renowned musician explained in an exclusive interview with 'Independent Media' that performing at the gathering is a 'dream come true.' 'So far, I am loving it, and I was here for the first time three months ago when I visited for a vacation and to do some sightseeing.' He believes that the event 'is a great idea to get all the music lovers to get together and to see the best musicians in the world, to share the music and to share the culture.' Igor Butman Quartet on the Rosies stage during the 22nd Cape Town International Jazz Festival. Image: Henk Kruger/Independent Newspapers Igor Butman Quartet on the Rosies stage during the 22nd Cape Town International Jazz Festival. Image: Henk Kurger/Independent Newspapers With a career as a jazz musician which extends decades, he has performed for world leaders, including former US president Bill Clinton, who referred to Butman as his favourite saxophonist. He said that performing for the likes of Clinton as well as other presidents was a 'big responsibility' but he hopes to touch the souls of all those who listen to his music. Local musician, Brathew van Schalkwyk, 27, often leaves many Capetonians impressed with his musicianship when he plays at a familiar wine bar. He was in attendance at Butman's show and was impressed by what he heard. 'I've heard of Igor Butman, but I've never heard his music, and so seeing them here tonight at the CTIJF - especially in Rosies as it has good sound… (You can see) the chops of the cats. You can tell these are highly-skilled musicians,' Van Schalkwyk said. Igor Butman Quartet on the Rosies stage during the 22nd Cape Town International Jazz Festival. Image: Henk Kruger/Independent Newspapers 'The sounds that Igor gets, the tone of the bassist and the pianist is just phenomenal. He has got chops for days, and he's got a really nice voice. 'It was a really long journey, but it was a journey worth taking because you get inspired by things like this, and that's kind of been the whole thing with coming to the CTIJF.' Van Schalkwyk said that they definitely need to come back to Cape Town again, to do more workshops - like they did recently - just to 'spread it even further cause we can learn from them, and they can learn from us'.
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Fairport's ‘Rosie the Riveter' awarded Congressional Medal of Honor
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Saturday marked a special return for a local woman with a long history. Fairport's own 'Rosie the Riveter' was recently honored at the National World War II Museum, and bestowed the Congressional Medal of Honor. Mary Masciangelo made the trip back from New Orleans on Saturday and was given a warm welcome home at the Rochester airport. She, along with more than a dozen other 'Rosies,' was honored during Friday's Congressional Medal Commemoration Ceremony, which is one of the highest honors a civilian can receive. She spoke with News 8 about how her trip went, and all the other powerful women she met along the way. 'They were super friendly, kind of miss them now [she laughs],' Mary told News 8 on Saturday. 'Treated like a queen, oh my gosh, they couldn't do it enough for us.' When you hear the term 'Rosie the Riveter,' many will of course think of the iconic poster by Norman Rockwell, depicting a woman in a work shirt and bandana, flexing her biceps. Well, she represented a movement during World War II where these 'Rosies' did things no one thought possible, building machines, working in factories, and stepping in where needed. Mary and her guardian left for the trip on Thursday when News 8's Adam Chodak first featured the World War II hero. He met with her once more on Saturday, visiting the airport to congratulate her. Local 'Rosie the Riveter' to be honored a week before turning 100 Another sweet highlight: Mary will celebrate her 100th birthday this week. Happy early birthday from all of us here at News 8, Mary! Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Local 'Rosie the Riveter' to be honored a week before turning 100
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — As World War Two moved manpower from the factory to the frontline, millions of women chipped in by clocking in. Their manufacturing work became immortalized through the cultural icon known as 'Rosie the Riveter.' Mary Masciangelo of Henrietta was a local Rosie. 'I worked at Shuron Optical, doing the pins for the parachutes and putting temples in the air force goggles,' Masciangelo said. 'Everything was secret. (They didn't tell us about) the pins, they wouldn't tell me because they were afraid of sabotage.' Eight decades, three children and a 75-year marriage later, News 8 found Masciangelo at the Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport, ready to head to New Orleans. The National World War Two Museum is there and it's at the museum Friday Masciangelo and 16 other Rosies will be honored for their work on the home front. All of them have already received the Congressional Gold Medal — which is the highest civilian honor Congress can bestow. All the recognition leaves Masciangelo a bit uneasy.'I never got honors like this,' she said, adding she doesn't know if she deserves it. ' I helped my folks, got electric in their house, got them a washing machine, refrigerator, we were very humble.'One week away from turning 100 years old, she still is, joking the secret to her longevity is dandelions.'My Italian family used to cook a lot of dandelions, eggs,' Masciangelo family was at the airport to see her off. Her daughter, Jean Kelly, though, was traveling with her. Only one other person, Masciangelo says, she'd like to have along for this ride.'I wish he was here,' she said, lifting up a photo of a man in uniform. 'Henry, my hubby.'Henry died in 2018. While he won't be with her, the many memories they created together will, as will the memories of the years she spent making the parts that changed the war and her life. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
