Percussionist John Kasica
arrived at rehearsal this morning with the "Key to the Frontier." As I
mentioned previously, John and his wife Paula were celebrated in Fort Smith, Arkansas
recently. On September 12 they were given the "Key to the Frontier" and that
date was officially proclaimed "John Kasica
Day." The proclamation reads:
"On the occasion of the visit of John
Kasica, from St. Louis, Missouri,
Outstanding Musician with the St. Louis Symphony, to perform on Friday,
September 12, 2008 in Breedlove Auditorium on the University of Arkansas Fort
Smith Campus in Fort Smith, Arkansas, this Proclamation of Welcome is hereby
issued, and in honor of the visit, I, Ray Baker, Mayor of the City of Fort
Smith, Arkansas, do hereby proclaim Friday, September 12, 2008 as JOHN KASICA
DAY in Fort Smith, Arkansas. I join with all our citizens in welcoming John Kasica to Fort
Smith, Arkansas. WE'RE
GLAD YOU ARE HERE!"
You can't beat that. And there is also a certificate that
appoints John as "ambassador of fellowship and goodwill" for the city of Fort Smith, and bestows
upon him the title of "Honorary Citizen."
And as proof, here is John holding the "Key to the Frontier"
plaque and his honorary citizen certificate in Powell Hall. The shiny things in
his hands are the plaque and certificate:
So what does a "Key to the Frontier" open? I didn't even
know there was a lock.
