Apple Blossom Queen Portraits On Display 
Posted on 4/9/2010

Larry Kraft, Director, Springfield Medical Care Systems' Foundation, at exhibit of past Apple Blossom Queens.

SPRINGFIELD — Portraits of Apple Blossom Cotillion Queens are currently on display in the art exhibit space at Springfield Hospital. 
 
This exhibit includes the 33 formal portraits of Apple Blossom queens since 1977 and 5 private portraits donated by queens from 1957 to 1976.  A total of 38 of the 53 recipients of this coveted title are featured.
 
The exhibit is located on Level B of Springfield Hospital.  It will run until the end of April when it will move to Riverside Gymnasium as part of the “Memory Lane” exhibit at the Cotillion. In addition to these portraits, event goers may also view a sampling of past gowns and all 53 past Cotillion programs.  A preview of the “Memory Lane” exhibit and photographs of all the 2010 Cotillion couples are on display in store windows on Valley Street in downtown Springfield.
 
The 54th Apple Blossom Queen will be crowned on Saturday, May 1 at Riverside Gymnasium in Springfield.  The theme of this year’s Cotillion is “Summer Daze,” and features songs from summers real and imagined. 
 
“The Cotillion is both a community pageant and a fundraising event,” says Larry Kraft, Director of the Springfield Hospital Foundation, which presents the event.  For the 6th consecutive year, according to Kraft, all proceeds will be used for scholarships for health care careers.
 
Tickets for the Friday, April 30 performance cost $10. Tickets for the Saturday, May 1 performance cost $12 in advance, $15 at the door.  All tickets may be purchased in advance at Tina’s Hallmark and the Corner Gift Shop and Information Desk in the hospital lobby as well as from the Foundation office.
 
For more information, please call Larry Kraft, 885-7644 or e-mail lkraft@springfieldmed.org .
 
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