“America, We Remember” was an annual patriotic celebration that involved patriotic readings and/or reflections, speeches, music and fireworks. It was an observance that began in 2000, ran annually at least through 2013 and was staged in Garfield Park's MacAllister Amphitheater.
The event was launched by philanthropist and Garfield Park benefactor P.E. MacAllister, chairman of MacAllister Machinery Co., Indiana’s leading construction and heavy equipment dealer. MacAllister was a longtime supporter of the arts, including and especially opera, but he held a particularly warm spot in his heart for Garfield Park.
“America, We Remember” observances were held in the late afternoons. They opened with a processional march and performance by the Indianapolis 500 Gordon Pipers, a bagpipe and drum ensemble that organized in Indianapolis in 1962. The civilian bagpipe band caught public favor quickly, and by the next year, it was appearing at several festivities associated with the world-renowned Indy 500-Mile auto race. In fact, it was Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony Hulman who eventually asked the bagpipe organization to adopt the phrase “Indianapolis 500” as part of the band’s name.
Because the Gordon Pipers also became a staple on the annual “America, We Remember” program, I present quite a few photos of them here.
The Gordon Pipers’ procession started at the far south end of MacAllister Amphitheater premises and moved north to the stage (shown in the first of seven Gordon Pipers photos below). The players then performed for a modest period before recessing, as shown in the seventh photo.
Gordon Pipers were followed on the program by remarks and/patriotic readings from P.E. MacAllister himself and various representatives of the Indianapolis Parks Department and Friends of Garfield Park Inc., the park’s advocacy and fundraising foundation since the late 1990s. In 2004, former Indiana Pacers basketball player Darnell Hillman (right) recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
Capping off the amphitheater portion of the observances were additional musical performances, often by prominent local artists such as the Wright Brothers, Cathy Morris, the Indianapolis Municipal Band, the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra and Indy rock music favorite Carl Storie. The event concluded with a night of fireworks.
7 Bridges, an Eagles tribute band, was the scheduled featured musical act for the 2013 rendition of “America, We Remember,” but not long after 7 Bridges took the stage that evening, a heavy thunderstorm moved into and through the Indianapolis area, prompting organizers to delay and eventually cancel the concert. As soon as 7 Bridges band members and their gear and equipment could be helped off the stage and ushered to safety, organizers launched the fireworks program.
Appearing on the same bill with Storie in 2006 was the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra (first three photos below).
Speaking at the 2006 observance were Mark Bowell (above), former executive director of Friends of Garfield Park and current assistant to the Friends' Board of Directors; P.E. MacAllister (first photo below); and Lynda Burrello (second photo below), now president of Friends of Garfield Park and retired manager of Garfield Park for Indy Parks. MacAllister, after whom Garfield Park’s renovated amphitheater is named today, died Oct. 23, 2019, at the age of 101.
Above and below, Indianapolis' own Cathy Morris and her jazz combo performed at the 2010 observance. In the photo above, MacAllister is sitting in the front row, immediately to the right of Cathy Morris from this view.
Capping off the amphitheater portion of the observances were additional musical performances, often by prominent local artists such as the Wright Brothers, Cathy Morris, the Indianapolis Municipal Band, the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra and Indy rock music favorite Carl Storie. The event concluded with a night of fireworks.
7 Bridges, an Eagles tribute band, was the scheduled featured musical act for the 2013 rendition of “America, We Remember,” but not long after 7 Bridges took the stage that evening, a heavy thunderstorm moved into and through the Indianapolis area, prompting organizers to delay and eventually cancel the concert. As soon as 7 Bridges band members and their gear and equipment could be helped off the stage and ushered to safety, organizers launched the fireworks program.
Carl Storie, best known as lead singer of the popular 1970s Faith Band in Indianapolis, performed (first three photos below) with a band at the 2006 rendition of “America, We Remember.”
Coming tomorrow: Chapter 2, The Garfield Park Arts Center
Previously in the Garfield Park in Pictures series:
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