Aloft Downtown Tallahassee Hotel to Honor Fallen World War II Soldier With Plaque

MEDIA ADVISORY

WHAT:  The Aloft Downtown Tallahassee hotel will conduct a plaque installation ceremony to honor 2^nd Lt. Edwin Screven Frierson, U.S. Army Air Force, on April 17, 2010, the anniversary of Lt. Frierson’s birth.  The young soldier was last seen by his family at the historic Floridan Hotel before being lost in the Battlefor Italy in World War II on November 21, 1944.  Frierson’s family will be in attendance to share memories of their loved one through family journals written by the soldier’s father.
 
WHO:  This event will include the family of Lt. Frierson, some of whom are local residents and others from out-of-town.  Screven Watson, Lt. Frierson’s nephew and a Tallahasseeresident, will attend, along with Martha Frierson Ellis, the soldier’s baby sister, who was five years old at the time of her brother’s passing.  Mayor John Marks will make comments on behalf of the City of Tallahassee.  Also assisting with the ceremony will be hotel General Manager Marc Greenberg, the Leon High School MCJROTC Color Guard, and Pastor Clarke Campbell-Evans of St. Paul United Methodist Church.
 
WHEN AND WHERE:  Saturday, April 17, 2010at 10:30 a.m.at the front entrance of the Aloft Tallahassee Downtown, located at 200 North Monroe Street.
 
WHY:  Located on the site of the historic Floridan Hotel, Lt. Frierson’s family had originally placed a memorial tree and plaque at the location through the City of Tallahassee Friendsof the Parks.  With the construction of the new Aloft Hotel, this memorial needed to be relocated.  McKibbon Hotel Management has been honored to work with the soldier’s family to develop an appropriate memorial to be located outside the hotel, honoring this young hero and serving as a reminder of many goodbyes that have occurred at this historic site.