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Community
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Written by Jim Siegel
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Celebration’s Corpus Christi Catholic Church, which had previously held its services at Celebration High School Cafeteria, recently competed its new church building on Celebration Avenue and Waterside Drive, just in time for Christmas. The result is a stunning, classical-style building inside and out that not only fits well with the architectural pattern established by The Celebration Company, but also becomes an attractive, prominent landmark of the community.
Groundbreaking for the church was held in November 2008, though construction did not begin in earnest until the following January. “It seems remarkable that they could finish such a large and complex building in such a relatively short time,” said Celebration resident Dan Tomsick, who during his daily walks past the site kept track of progress. Brasfield & Gorrie, the general contractor for the project and a Fortune 500 company, kept up a steady pace, especially in the last three weeks when the seating, altar art, and stained glass windows were installed. |
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Community
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Written by Jim Siegel
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Celebration resident Roxanne Bras is another of America’s heroes soon to be deployed to Afghanistan to help fight the War on Terror. But that’s not the only reason for the Town to be proud of her. Having graduated in June with a degree in Economics from Harvard, the second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was recently named a Rhodes Scholar, a first for both Celebration and Osceola County. Following her tour in Afghanistan, she will report to University of Oxford in October to pursue an M.Phil. in international relations, specializing in strategic studies.
After having attended the Celebration K-8 School from 1996 to 2001, Ms. Bras graduated valedictorian from the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program at Kissimmee’s Gateway High School in 2005. While at Gateway, she was on the tennis and cross-country teams. Her mother, Karen Bras, credits the IB Program for “opening up the world” for her daughter, noting that IB commands a lot of respect among Ivy League Schools that otherwise might not consider graduates from high schools in Osceola County. Last year, Celebration High School announced that it would also be offering an IB Program. 
Having received a four-year scholarship from the U.S. Army to attend Harvard, Ms. Bras studied the economics of national security, with emphasis on counterinsurgency. Her senior thesis involved the quantitative metrics in counterinsurgency, primarily in Iraq and Afghanistan. While an ROTC cadet during her freshman year, she met General David Petraeus, head of the U.S. Central Command, who has been her mentor ever since. In addition to her undergraduate degree, she also earned her second lieutenant’s commission, as well as graduation from the U.S. Army Airborne School and the U.S. Army Air Assault School.
The famous Rhodes Scholarship Program was created in 1904 and is funded by a trust established by Cecil John Rhodes (1853- 1902), a British-born businessman and mining magnate in South Africa, and founder of the DeBeers Diamond Company. Each year, the trust funds nearly one hundred scholarships to Rhodes’ alma mater, University of Oxford, about thirty-two of which are allocated to the United States. This year there were over 800 final applicants for those thirty-two awards. Winners receive up to three years’ of fees and living expenses while in graduate studies at Oxford; by some estimates that’s about $50,000 per year.
Rhodes Scholarships are awarded based on high academic achievement, personal integrity, leadership potential, and physical vigor. Roxanne’s mother noted that her daughter distinguished herself athletically not only as a marathon runner, but also in the airborne and air assault schools. “But the clincher, “ said Karen Bras, “may have been her thesis on counterinsurgency.” The Rhodes Scholarship recipients for 2010 were announced a few days before Thanksgiving, no doubt adding to the blessings for which the family gave thanks.
In a December speech to the Middle School Girls Leadership Forum at All Saints Academy in nearby Winter Haven, Lt. Bras warned the girls against putting too much importance on being a woman. “Don’t try to be the best female president,” she noted, “ ... just be the best president.” She emphasized that hard work inside and outside school would some day pay off.
Lt. Bras is currently preparing for deployment at Fort Campbell (KY), and she is scheduled to leave in early February for Afghanistan, where she will serve as a combat engineer before reporting to Oxford in October. She will remain an Army officer while she is studying at Oxford.
Concluded her mother in an exclusive interview, “ We are proud of all our children. We have urged each of them to follow their dreams.” |
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Community
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Written by Jim Siegel
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Last Fourth of July the Town of Celebration signed a “Community Covenant” in support of our Armed Forces and decided to adopt a local Army National Guard Unit scheduled to be deployed overseas in early 2010. Recently, residents of the Town organized a combination Christmas and Send-off party for the soldiers and their families at the Celebration Community Center. The event was a resounding success that buoyed spirits and touched the hearts of those who attended.
The Unit being deployed is the Headquarters Company of the Second Battalion, 124th Infantry of the Florida National Guard, led by Captain Jason Craft.. Stationed at the Ferncreek Armory in Orlando, the unit has been activated for deployment in the Middle East Theater. Ferncreek Armory is about 20 miles northeast of Celebration, and a few miles north of the Orlando International Airport. But the soldiers are from all over Florida, not just the Orlando area. 
South Village resident Karen Whelden spearheaded the planning and organization of the entire event for the soldiers and their families. Her spouse, retired Army Major General Craig Whelden, developed the Community Covenant Program now used to support all branches of the United States Military. Covenants with military units have now been signed by 400 American towns, communities, groups, and States across the country (www.army.mil/community).
The recent event held in Celebration was not only a Holiday party, but also served as a venue for awarding Unit commendations earned while the soldiers have been preparing for deployment. After a breakfast and other business, the Company’s 108 members assembled and marched smartly two blocks down Celebration Avenue to Founders Park and the Veterans Memorial. Family members followed along on the sidewalk, while residents lined the street to applaud their adopted heroes. With the Company in precise formation, Captain Craft and Battalion commander Lt. Colonel Ralph Ribas thanked the community and bestowed about 10 commendations to unit members. In particular, Captain Craft presented framed certificates of thanks to Katie Tamanini of Town Hall, Karen Craft, and Corpus Christi Catholic Church. Following that troop formation ceremony, the soldiers and their families (numbering about 220 in total) returned to the Community Center for a Christmas feast, entertainment, children’s games, and other activities. Later, children and their parents were transported by Mike Gaw’s Celebration Express train to the Santa Station on Front Street for a visit with Santa, photos, and a present. 
Said Captain Craft afterward, “My soldiers and their families were absolutely overwhelmed by the visible and practical outpouring of care demonstrated by the people of Celebration and the surrounding area. Our children will not soon forget the great food, train ride, visit from Santa, presents, entertainment, and so much more. Our soldiers could not have been prouder as they paraded in the town. They and their loved ones could see, in a real way, the reason for their sacrifice. For a short time they did not have to think about deployments and separation; for a short time it was all about enjoying the season.”
Much credit goes to all those residents and groups that contributed time, materials, and food. They include CROA, Celebration Town Hall Staff, Joseph Judge, Hank Wake, Desiree Eastman, Corpus Christi Catholic Church, Mike Gaw, Family Fun Station, Lee Moore, Town Tavern restaurant, other local businesses and entertainers, and scores of resident volunteers.
Deployment date for Headquarters Company is now set for January 6.
We will be following the progress of both the soldiers in theater as well as families left back home, and we will be periodically reporting on how they are doing. |
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