Royal Rosarian Blessing of the Festival and Memorial Service

Tabitha Ivan and her Royal escort, Dennis, (third from left) at the Blessing of the Festival

Get used to seeing the princesses standing in this order.  Beginning on the left, Devon Thompson from St. Mary's Academy is called Princess #1 because her school made the first announcement.  I am Princess #3 and I will be frequently standing between #2 Amber Shackelford from Madison and #4 Paris Sykes from Central Catholic.

Sunday, May 3, 2015 Rose Court Schedule
ARRIVE	DEPART	LOCATION	EVENT
4:45pm	5:00pm	Headquarters	Start the Day Meeting
5:30pm	7:00pm	First Christian Church	Dinner with Royal Rosarians, Rose Festival Foundation, Blueback Submarine Council Navy League of the United States and the Portland Rose Society
7:00pm	9:00pm	First Christian Church	Courtyard rose planting and Princess Reception
9:15pm	9:30pm	Headquarters	Debrief

Story of the Day

Pastor Amy Piatt (left) and Rosarians during the Blessing

Today is the first public appearance of the court.  We were treated to a nice dinner and then presented at court by our Royal Rosarian escorts.  Here at the First Christian Church on SW Park, we gathered to honor in memoriam members of the four pillar organizations that are responsible for the Rose Festival who passed this last year.

Those four groups are the Royal Rosarians, the Rose Festival Foundation, the Blueback Submarine Council Navy League of the United States and the Portland Rose Society.

In the courtyard, we watched as Pastor Amy Piatt accepted the ceremonial rose bush and helped plant it in her courtyard. Royal Rosarian Prime Minister Marilyn Schultz told her, "For you a rose in Portland grows."  After Rose Society President Judy Fleck administered the royal ceremonial water, we joined the Pastor in asking for a blessing on the festival.

Afterwards, we moved inside for the Princesses reception.

Tabitha Ivan and VIP Linda Cohn at Reception 

2015 Rose Court with 2014 Queen Emma and Prime Minster