FRIDAY, AUGUST 24 - The day Harvey came ashore.
6 PM - HARVEY GRATEFUL FENCE
Everyone is encouraged to hang their item of gratitude (in honor of someone who helped) onto the fence of the Texas Maritime Museum and the white picket fence North of Charlotte Plummer’s. There will be banners placed on the Texas Maritime fence and on the Charlotte Plummer’s fence. Stars of Hope will be placed every 10 feet along the fence. All items must be picked up by 6 p.m. Sunday evening.
7 PM - HARVEY REFLECTION GATHERING
Everyone is encouraged to bring lawn chairs to the stage area on the Festival Grounds.
- Community Choir Sings (Contact Marcie Peterson worship@fbcrockport.net Choir practice Aug. 16 at 6 p.m. at FBC)
- Special thank you's mentioned
- Announcements of events happening over the weekend
- A Common Community Prayer will be read for those to reflect on throughout the weekend and at all church services.
- Colorful ribbons will be distributed to hang on a Live Oak Tree in remembrance and appreciation for the trees lost (each family will take one ribbon)
- Wildflower seeds will be distributed to those present to be spread throughout Aransas County to symbolize new life and color to our community.
8:03 PM - COUNTY WIDE MOMENT OF SILENCE & BUTTERFLY RELEASE
It is encouraged that everyone in the six-county disaster declared region of the Coastal Bend, stop what they’re doing and take a few minutes for a Moment of Silence, to reflect what happened to our area one year ago. Butterflies will be released at this time. The Father and Daughter Team of John Jackson and Sarah will perform the song "Hymn of Promise".
8: 15 PM - DISMISSAL
SATURDAY, AUGUST 25 - Hurricane Harvey One-Year Anniversary
9 AM - KID'S ZONE at the Festival Grounds. Businesses that would like to have an activity booth, contact The Children's Coalition at
childrenscoalitionac@gmail.com9 AM - HARVEY GRATEFUL FENCE Continue to place items on the fence
10 AM - BOOK SIGNINGS, REFRESHMENTS & HARVEY PHOTOGRAPHY Woman's Club at Rockport Harbor
10 AM - FIRST RESPONDERS MEET at the Festival Grounds. First responders will be by their different vehicles allowing the public to formally thank them.
11 AM - FIRST RESPONDERS PROGRAM
11 :30 AM - HEB SPONSORED PICNIC OF HAMBURGERS, CHIPS AND DRINK FOR 2000 PEOPLE
Everyone is encouraged to bring picnic blankets and wear patriotic clothing.
6 PM - ROCKPORT LITTLE THEATRE & ROCKPORT CULTURAL ARTS DISTRICT BLOCK PARTY
North Street and Main Street will be closed for a block party with live entertainment by Janelle. There will be food trucks, and beverages, vendors with Harvey art, and games for children, and more entertainment. Harvey signs are encouraged.
6 PM - FULTON HARBOR - HILDA LAMAS PERFORMS
At the white fence next to Charlotte Plummers an outdoor performance will be held by Hilda Lamas.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 26 - Church Services and Reflections
Attend the church or reflection area of your choice for the Common Prayer Reading. Many churches throughout our community are having special activities, gatherings, services and events. Please inquire at the church of your choice.
Aransas County was ground zero for the eye wall impact of Hurricane Harvey on August 25. 2017. Our spirit remains unbroken and we are fully committed to nothing less than a full and complete recovery from the impacts of Harvey! We are motivated to rebuild, restore, revitalize, and renew our home! The Long-Term Recovery effort is guided by a plan and this takes time. Because our leadership team is committed to doing things right, our desire is to serve as a model effort for the State and Nation to see. With our neighbors, friends, and families, we are picking up, standing up, and recovering. We are grateful beyond measure of how many people, places, and things that have helped us this past year. We invite everyone to join in as we continue to recover. We want to be the best we can be in this historic revitalization effort.
SPECIAL THANKS TO HARVEY ANNIVERSARY COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Children's Activities • Stefany Simmons
Common Prayer and Remembrance Message • Ministerial Alliance Pastor Scott Jones
Book Signings, Refreshments, and Photography Exhibit • Jo Actkinson, Gail Spillar Pelath
Harvey Memorial Art Piece • Judge Burt Mills
Wildflowers • Keith Barrett, Toni Martinez
Bows/Ribbons for the Live Oak Trees • Marcie Peterson
Harvey Grateful Fence• Dianne & Terry Nielsen, Cyndy and David Tuorila, Michelle Lewis
PR • rack card brochure, website, press releases • Vicki Pitluk. Sandy Jumper. Diane Probst, Nancy Paulson
City Services • Mayor Pat Rios, Mike Donoho, Brittney Elkins
Long Term Recovery Team • Jennifer Heard, Deanna Spruce, John Jackson
Other • Candy Fletcher
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT THE LONG TERM RECOVERY TEAM HOTLINE AT 361-790-9496.
Harvey Woman's Club Book Signing & Exhibit
Planning is underway for Rockport to acknowledge the year's progress since Hurricane Harvey.
As part of the activities, The Woman's Club of Aransas County is having an open house with pictures and memorabilia on display to commentate their 70th anniversary. The Woman’s Club is also hosting book signings for authors who have published Hurricane Harvey related books. We would also like to include an exhibit of pictures including both the destruction and the recovery process. We are asking photographers who have pictures to join us for the day or to lend us your pictures.
We have tables available to display framed or cradled pieces and space to accommodate standing display boards for hanging pictures. Your ideas for display are welcome as this memorial weekend is still in the planning stages. Please contact me if you have pictures we can use and if you have ideas for the exhibit. FMI: contact Gail at gmspillar@yahoo.com
Kid's Zone - Children's Coalition of Aransas County
“Kid’s Zone” on Saturday morning, Aug. 25 coordinated by Children’s Coalition of Aransas County - Local businesses and organizations can set up booths with treats and/or activities for the children, and also provides for great opportunities to network and share information with parents! Please let me know if you would like to host a booth at this event.
What: Kids Zone @ Harvey Anniversary Weekend
When: Sat, Aug 25, 9:00am-11:00am
Where: Festival Grounds
First Responder Recognition and Remembrance
When Harvey hit, Aransas County’s local first responders did not evacuate to safety, rather they hunkered down in place at their various agencies to bravely ride out the storm. Stories of feeling the actual walls wanting to move apart in one emergency center, feeling helpless as citizens who stayed made 911 calls and the hopelessness they felt for not being able to come to their aid, witnessing our beloved birds trying to fly to safety but couldn’t get air to fly.
During the 1-hour eye of the storm, as rescuers made their careful way around, one found their home gone but were amazed that their two dogs were alive and well. These brave men and women, some of who are volunteers like all of Aransas County’s Fire Fighters stayed in place for weeks, sleeping on cots, using portable showers, some with literally nothing left but the clothes on their backs – seeing that their actual home now was the evidence room in the Police department.
The tasks they worked around the clock to performed for 6 weeks post storm would surprise some: for example, the City of Rockport’s Fleet Service changed over 500 flats, the Game Warden’s rescued a sea turtle that was found 2 miles in-shore and more.
So, on Saturday, Aug. 25 from 9 a.m. to Noon, we will honor and thank them. All 1st Responder vehicles will be lined up at the Rockport Festival Grounds for citizens to interact with, for kids to enjoy getting a closer look at their equipment. A Ceremony will happen at 11 a.m. followed by a meal (hamburgers and chips) to feed 2,000 people provided by HEB Partners.
