A retired F-18 Hornet used by the Navy's Blue Angels honors pilots past and present near the academy's football field.

The elite air acrobats from the Navy  are featured yearly in Annapolis, primarily during commencement week.   Because of last year's sequestration and scheduling issues in two prior years, the Blue Amgels returned to Annapolis for the first time in three years back in the Spring.

Below is a video featuring these incredible flying fortresses and the talented pilots who guide them.

http://youtu.be/0hMpOHa6wOA

Anna Across America - Charlotte Motor Speedway

 NASCAR race fans have been flocking to Charlotte Motor Speedway since 1960.

The track, located in the Charotte suburb of Concord, is considered the home track of NASCAR since many of the sport's teams are based around the area.

Charlotte Motor Speedway has been the setting for a number of movies including Days of Thunder, Speedway (starring Elvis Presley), and, oddly enough, Talladega Nights.

Charlotte Motor Speedway features a 1.5 mile quad oval track on which drivers approach speeds of 195 miles per hour.

The speedway has a seating capacity of more than 146,000.

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The Pepperazzi goes to great lengths to capture the photos featured in this blog, even if it requires the occasional trespassing.  This photo was made by circling the track's perimeter, finding an open gate, and snapping a shot before being escorted out by track personnel.

Anna Across America - Miami

Let's take a trip to beautiful Miami, Florida where sun-drench days give way to nonstop nightlife.  But it's not all about the party in Miami.  The city is a major center for finance, commerce, fashion, and international trade.

Miami is one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world with 50 percent of its population born outside the United States.

Beginning in the 1990s the city began experiencing a renaissance of sorts which has dramatically changed the city's worldwide perception....and downtown skyline.    People flocked to Miami again to work, play, and live.  Today, Miami ranks third behind New York and Chicago for downtown residents.    The gleaming skyscrapers on the bay at left are among a few of the multimillion dollar residences in downtown Miami.

Peppermill:  Miami resident and Grammy-winning entertainer Pitbull (Armando Christian Perez) has been a dedicated pitchman for the most original soft drink ever.   http://youtu.be/afFT0r6SlOM

 A symbol of Miami's history as a city is the Freedom Tower.   This downtown landmark was built in 1925 and headquartered a Miami newspaper.

It became well known in the 1960s as the "Ellis Island of Cuban Refugees" who were fleeing Castro's communist takeover.  The government  used the building to process the immigration and to provide medical and dental services.

The building was restored in the late 1990s and converted into a monument to Cuban refugees along with a museum, library, and meeting halls.

It was here that more than 200,000 people came to pay their last respects to Cuban entertainer Celia Cruz, the Queen of Salsa.  Known as one of the most important influences in the history of Cuban music, Cruz once teamed up with Latin American singing sensation Paulina Rubio in a Dr Pepper commercial.

http://youtu.be/tmfEdR0IWTM

....and South Beach

One of the more famous thoroughfares from the Anna Across America tour is Ocean Drive in Miami Beach.

Ocean Drive is the center of Miami Beach's historic Art Deco district, the largest collection of this architectural style in the world with more than 800 preserved buildings.  The 1.3 mile street overlooking the beach is lined with boutique hotels, cafes, shops and venues hosting South Beach's famous nightlife.

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Miami native Gail Edwards, an actress who appeared in numerous TV shows including Blossom and Full House,  was cast in this Clio Award-winning commercial for Dr Pepper.  Enjoy!

http://youtu.be/baChXz9OKOw

Anna Across America - Mall of America (Minneapolis)

The Mall of America, located near Minneapolis, Minnesota, is the most visited mall in the world with 40 million shoppers annually.

Opened in 1992, the Mall of America has a gross area of 4.8 million square feet or 96.4 acres - enough to contain seven Yankee Stadiums (obligatory baseball reference).  Tourists from around the world converge on the mega mall and its 530 stores on four levels.  Minnesota's tax-free shopping on clothes is a big draw.

Here's a fact that only you and I know:  Despite Minnesota's frigid winters, the Mall of America does not have a central heating system.  There is no need as skylights, LED lighting in stores, and believe it or not shopper's body heat keep the mall's temperature around 70 degrees on even the coldest of days.

In the center of the Mall of America is a seven-acre amusement park.  Nickelodeon Universe features rollercoasters, thrill and family rides as well as attractions for all ages.

The mall is built on the former site of Metropolitan Stadium where baseball's Minnesota Twins and football's Vikings called home.  A plaque in the amusement park commemorates the site of home plate, from which Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew once launched a 520-foot home run.

Anna Across America - Concord, New Hampshire

Concord is the capital of the state of New Hampshire, one of the original 13 states.  The State House at left, which opened in 1819, has the distinction of being the oldest of its kind where the legislature occupies its original chambers.

This staunchly independent state is known for its motto "Live Free Or Die", a philosophy somewhat counter to its New England brethren.

http://youtu.be/hnTVNZojojU

New Hampshire also figures prominently in American politics as having the first presidential primary.   Candidates of all political persuasions descend on the tiny state which can portend the viability of a presidential hopeful from the outset of the race.

Attention Dr Pepperazzi:  Last call for photo contributions to the AAA blog, which is scheduled to wrap up its 10-month run in September.

Anna Across America - Fort Myers, Florida

The Fort Myers area in south Florida is a mecca for those who enjoy its beaches and outdoor activities while not minding the heat and humidity.  The heat can quickly turn into thunderstorms in Fort Myers, which leads the nation in days in which thunder is heard (89).

JetBlue Park at Fenway South is the spring training home of the Boston Red Sox.

The park, which opened in 2012, features the exact dimensions of the Fenway Park playing field.  It also includes unique features from the Beantown address such as the Green Monster, Pesky's Pole and the Lone  Red Seat that marks the longest home run ever hit at Fenway (502 feet by Ted Williams in 1946).

http://youtu.be/61r91T34gk4

The aforementioned Williams, the most revered Red Sox player of all time, is immortalized in a statue at left of the Anna / Dr Pepper can.  The statue shows Williams, bat in hand, placing a cap on the head of a cancer- stricken child.     This statue also is located outside the park in Boston where Williams generously gave to those in need.

The Minnesota Twins' spring home is also located in Fort Myers.  Hammond Stadium, whose facade was patterned after Churchill Downs, has hosted the team and its fans searching for warmth from the brutal Minnesota winter since 1991.

Below is an arctic blast from the past featuring Diet Dr Pepper

http://youtu.be/8Ci2cV8zTE0

A Tribute To An Orange-Clad Saint

Although the Anna Across America tour will soon end its ten-month run, we are pausing for a few days to celebrate and reflect upon the life of Anna's grandmother "Momma Laura", who passed away on Thursday.    She leaves a devoted husband of 59 years, four children, seven grandchildren and a legacy of faithful service to God and His people.

This gracious Southern lady, who loved the color orange and wore it proudly in support of the Tennessee Volunteers, lived life to the fullest.   She had the kindest set of eyes and a sweet spirit in her voice.  Hundreds of elementary school kids benefitted from that spirit during her career in education.  A cook?  You bet! She kept four kids, a hungry preacher, and countless others well fed for decades.  And don't get me started on her musical talents.  No one has ever played Rocky Top on the piano like her...the ivory keys danced with delight as she played the Volunteer anthem.

"Momma Laura" visited all 50 states and almost every continent.  Always looking forward to her next trip no matter the destination, she was on a quest to experience the beauty and diversity of this world.    Now, Anna is following in those footsteps all over the planet.

Although she rarely sat in front of the computer, "Momma Laura" actually came up with the idea for the photo blog you are now viewing.  In a conversation last Fall after the Anna / Dr Pepper Can came out,  I mentioned taking photos of the "Anna Can" in my travels and putting them in a photo book.  "Or," Laura said, "you could put them on the computer".   At that moment the Anna Across America tour was born.

"Momma Laura", who kept the Anna / Dr Pepper can within arm's length of her favorite chair,  would tell us to press on with the tour for there are other trips to make and to document.   And we will finish, albeit with a profound sense of loss.

While we say farewell to this wonderful matriarch of the "Anna Nation", there is comfort in knowing her gracious spirit will continue to bless the lives of those she touched.

"Momma Laura" loved people so naturally, so easily.

May we all learn from her example.

MRG

Anna Across America - Hawaii

Aloha, from Hawaii...

Hawaii's most recognizable landmark -- Diamond Head -- is the backdrop for the Anna / Dr Pepper can's visit to the 50th state in the Union.

Diamond Head, the tuff cone of an extinct volcano that erupted about 200,000 years ago, is located just beyond Waikiki Beach on the island of Oahu. 

A climb to the top of Diamond Head is a strenuous 45 minute hike, but a rewarding view of Waikiki, Honolulu, and the Pacific coast line awaits.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlzQpN-jZvo

The Anna / Dr Pepper can gets some well-earned beach time at picturesque Waimea Bay on Oahu's famous North Shore.

The tranquil ocean water pictured at right turns into ferocious swells during the winter months with surfers from around the world taking on waves of 30 feet or more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bATFTGpr7u8

At Waimea Bay, cliff jumping is a favorite summer pasttime for locals and visitors alike.

The video link below takes you to the sights and sounds of Waimea Bay in this Pacific paradise.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mh1inSUTgXQ

More than one million visitors a year come to the Dole Plantation deep into the island of Oahu.

In 1900, James Dole bought a 61-acre site here with the goal of establishing a plantation that would maximize area's potential for producing pineapple.

Dole opened a roadside stand in 1950 which has grown on this site to Hawaii's most visited tourist attraction.  The Plantation is a must-see on the road to the North Shore of Oahu.  Visitors can engage in the "pineapple experience" through a variety of activities including a pineapple garden tour, a train ride through the plantation, and a pineapple garden.

Far from Waikiki's crowds, the exclusive West Oahu resort area known as Ko Olina has attracted several luxury hotels such as Disney's Aulani Resort and JW Marriott with its man made lagoons and beautiful Pacific sunsets.

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The year 1992 was a big year for Anna and her family and Dr Pepper commercials as these ads attest.

http://youtu.be/RcpYTpKFRlg
http://youtu.be/IAZkt8YYQ7Q
http://youtu.be/PrGYDNkphSU
http://youtu.be/dZP1r8vsUVc
http://youtu.be/ph2fGqDLbTA

Anna Across America - Keep Climbing With Delta

Delta Airlines is the official airline of the Anna Across America tour - a fitting tribute as Delta is Anna's favorite airline.

Delta has transported the "Anna Can" and its camera-wielding Dr Pepperazzi all over America and beyond during the past nine months.  Tens of thousands of miles have been flown with the final number being feverishly tallied by accountants from Ernst & Young for publication at a later date.

Delta traces its roots back to a humble Macon Georgia crop dusting operation in 1925.  Four years later in 1929, owner C.E. Woolman began passenger service and through numerous aquisitions Delta  is now one of the predominant airlines in the world.  Delta's headquarters are in Atlanta, Georgia, home to the world's busiest airport.  At left is one of almost 1,000 Delta jet departures from Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport each day.

In its history, Delta has had a number of defining slogans including "Airline of the South," "Delta is ready when you are,"  " We love to fly, and it shows," and the most recent "Keep Climbing."

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Before we depart this page, let's review the safety features of the Delta aircraft.  Six years ago Delta unveiled the first of its eye-catching, comical safety announcements.  Delta flight attendant Katherine Lee starred in the first safety video which earned her Internet acclaim for her finger wagging and a nickname Deltalina for her resemblance to Angelina Jolie.

http://youtu.be/MgpzUo_kbFY

Follow up safety videos - all equally as humorous - are presented below including a holiday version which debuted last November.

http://youtu.be/noE1YzvfA08

http://youtu.be/0P-fqUoHMBc

http://youtu.be/eduNjwNvcH4

http://youtu.be/FZm4gqagnVs

Our shameless plugs for Delta Airlines aside, its time to talk business. While Delta is the official airline of the Anna Across America tour, there is something very important missing from its planes - the great taste of Dr Pepper.

So it is our mission in the final days of the Anna Across America tour to begin a crusade that will bring the most original soft drink ever to Delta Airlines.  It is a match made in Southern Heaven.

You can make your voice heard (and taste buds represented) to Delta through twitter, Facebook, delta.com, and anytime you are sent a post flight survey.

Together, we can honor Anna's legacy as a Dr Pepper scholarship winner with a never-ending flow of Dr Pepper served on every Delta flight.

Anna Across (North) America - Toronto, Ontario (Part 2)

Anna and her namesake Dr Pepper can visit the Royal Ontario Museum Toronto, one of the world's leading natural history and world culture museums.

Visitors can explore the museum's bat cave, travel in time to Egypt or walk in the footsteps of ancient dinosaurs.

The Hockey Hall of Fame has been a part of the Toronto community since 1958.  It has been located in a former Bank of Montreal Building since 1993.

Enshrined in the Hall are 259 players, 101 "builders (coaches, general managers and other contributors to the game) and 15 on-ice officials.

Anna has visited dozens of Hard Rock Cafes across the America and the world.  She adds another HRC pin from the Hard Rock Cafe in downtown Toronto.

Trust Me I'm A Doctor Ad Campaign

http://youtu.be/8kUNdXRoJ-Y

 Toronto is one the most culturally diverse cities on the planet.  Almost 50 percent of its citizens are foreign born.

Diversity abounds and is celebrated all over the city and in neighborhoods with names such as Little Italy, Greektown, Little Jamaica, Little India, Little Portugal and perhaps the most well known of all -- Chinatown, one of the largest of its kind in North America.

Since opening in 1976, Lee Garden has been considered one of Toronto's best Chinese restuarants.

Anna Across (North) America - Toronto, Ontario (Part 1)

The Anna Across America tour crosses the border for a visit to Toronto, the largest city in Canada and the fourth largest city in North America.

At left the CN Tower and The Rogers Centre - better known as SkyDome - dominate the city skyline.

Anna and her father David ventured out into Toronto Harbour for a photo of this cosmopolitan city.

 The CN Tower is the tallest freestanding structure in the western hemisphere.   The tower completed in 1976 is 1,853 feet tall.

At, 1,100 feet, visitors can see a panoramic view of Toronto, the Lake Ontario area, and even the mist rising from Niagara Falls 80 miles away.  There is also a revolving restuarant offering fone dining.  The CN Tower's main function is for telecommunication.

You can learn more about Ontario's top tourist attraction in the link below.

http://youtu.be/jGxBJ34MgiI

 Toronto Harbour is a natural harbour which is protected from the waves of Lake Ontario by the Toronto Islands.

The calm waters make the harbour ideal for the shipping industry as well as recreational boating and sailing.

The Rogers Centre, originally known as SkyDome when it opened in 1989, is the home of major league baseball's Toronto Blue Jays and the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League.

Below is an inside/outside look at this sports venue.

http://youtu.be/JbS1k_2649A

Air Canada Centre is home to the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs and the Toronto Raptors of the NBA.

Anna Across America - Niagara Falls

In one of the most picturesque stops of the nine-month Anna Across America tour, we marvel at the natural wonder created by Niagara Falls.   The photos are brought to us by Anna herself and father David during their midsummer roadtrip.

At left, take note of what is at the end of the rainbow - the Dr Pepper can bearing Anna's now famous photo.  A pot of gold has nothing on this scene.

Niagara Falls is composed of three falls on the U.S.-Canadian border - the American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls (both on the U.S. side) and shown at left the Canadian Falls or Horseshoe Falls, which is mostly in Canada.  The combined falls form the highest flow rate of any waterfall in the world.

The American Falls and the smaller Bridal Veil Falls to its right as viewed by the Anna / Dr Pepper can from the Canadian side of the Niagara River.

At the visitors center on the Canadian side, the Anna / Dr Pepper can gets periously close to the Horseshoe Falls and its 173 foot drop.

The Horseshoe Falls is 2,600 feet wide and by far the largest of the three falls.

Click the link below for a video tour of the falls and its splendor.

http://youtu.be/wB6gHz8XHDI

Boat tours such as the Maid of the Mist and the Hornblower take tourists right up to the base of the falls for an incredible (and wet) view of the falls.

Let's join Anna and David on one of the boats below...

A very wet but worthwhile boat trip up the Niagara River takes the Anna / Dr Pepper can to the misty base of Niagara Falls.

Click the link below for another look at this magnificent natural wonder.

http://youtu.be/DlFXl6aekt0

The American Falls tumble down on to the boulders bordering the Niagara River 70- 100 feet below.

The polar vortex which gripped much of the U.S last January partially froze the falls as shown in the video link below.

http://youtu.be/LyHkw9krOw8

Anna Across America - Buffalo, New York

Anna and her father David head out into previous uncharted territory in the final month of the Anna Across America Tour.   First stop is Buffalo, New York.

At left, the well traveled "Anna Can" visits the practice facility of the Buffalo Bills.  The storied franchise which began play in the old American Football League (AFL) was a dominant team in the AFC East in the late 1980s and 1990s with numerous playoff appearances and three Super Bowl appearances in the 1990s.

Shelf Life Of Dr Pepper Products

click to collapse contents

Diets with Aspartame or Aspartame/AceK blends: 3 months or 13 weeks
Glass & Cans with Sugar or High Fructose Corn Syrup Sweetener: 9 months or 39 weeks
Plastic Bottles (all products): 3 months or 13 weeks

Anna Across America - Newark, Ohio

Just a 25 minute drive from Anna's home near Columbus, Ohio stands the most unique office building in the country -- the headquarters of the Longaberger Company, which markets handcrafted maple wood baskets and other home products.

The seven-story corporate headquarters, located in Newark, is modeled after one of the company's successful baskets.  The 150 ton handles can be heated during cold weather to prevent ice damage.

Note To Dr Pepper:  A 20-story building modeled after a Dr Pepper can in Plano would be a great addition to the North Texas landscape....and an excellent reminder of the most original soft drink ever.

....and nearby Frazeysburg

The World's Largest Apple Basket greets visitors to the Longaberger Homestead in nearby Frazeysburg.  The apple basket is 29-feet tall.

The Longaberger Homestead offers its fans shopping, dining and a chance to weave their own Longaberger Basket.

Anna Across America - Jackson, Mississippi

The Mississippi State Capitol marks the 12th state capitol on the Anna Across America tour.    The Mississippi State Capitol is located in the heart of Jackson.   The city was named after Andrew Jackson in honor of the then colonel's role in winning the battle of New Orleans, the decisive victory in the War of 1812.

The Capitol as well as other areas of Jackson were featured in the critically acclaimed movie The Help from 2011.

Through the years, Hollywood has found ways to promote - either intentionally or not intentionally - the freat taste of the most original soft drink ever.

Take a look at the movie clips in the link below for Dr Pepper cameos on the silver screen.

http://youtu.be/HdBfsLfXjyQ

Anna Across America - Fenway Park (Boston)

Fenway Park in Boston has been called America's Most Beloved Ballpark.  The home of baseball's Red Sox since 1912, Fenway Park is the oldest ball park in the major leagues.  Let's go inside this Boston cathedral for a game day look at the venerable stadium and the team (and its fans) who call it home.  You will see the predominant color is Fenway Green, the park's own paint code. Footage below is from Game Six of the 2013 World Series when the BoSox grabbed its eighth title.

http://youtu.be/ELquwl_fupg

Unintended Dr Pepper Ad

Following Game 1 of the 2013 World Series, a Boston fan showed his extreme devotion for Dr Pepper and the Red Sox on ESPN.  Take a look below.

http://youtu.be/eeW4IdN6DEY

The Fenway Park Scoreboard proclaims the Boston Red Sox as the World Champions for 2013.  And indeed it was the first time since 1918 that the Red Sox had won the championship at home as they clipped the Cardinals of St. Louis in six games.

Until 2004, Red Sox fans endured 86 heartbreaking years without a World Series title.  The Sox beat the Cardinals in five games to end the drought.

The devotion of Red Sox fans was beautifully captured in the movie Fever Pitch about a baseball obsessed Sox fan who finally finds another love.  The movie, starring Jimmy Fallon and Drew Barrymore, was being filmed during the 2004 baseball season but the script's ending had to be rewritten before its release in 2005 because of Boston's improbable ascent to the World Series title.  Below is a montage of memorable moments from the movie.

http://youtu.be/d32qBu4mHBI

The music being played in the clip is Neil Diamond's hit Sweet Caroline , which has has become one of many traditions at Fenway Park.  The song that Neil Diamond wrote in one hour in a Memphis  hotel room and recorded the next day is played in the middle of the eighth inning of every game and sung by a boisterous Fenway Park crowd.

For the first Red Sox home game played after the Boston Marathon bombings, Neil Diamond hopped on a plane in Los Angeles bound for Boston and performed the song live before a sold out crowd and an equally surprised national TV audience - a wonderful tribute to a hurting city.

http://youtu.be/pzILlmUJWvM

Anna Across America - Boston

Our Independence Day weekend celebration continues as the Anna / Dr Pepper tour makes its way to Boston, Massachusetts.

Boston is often called the "cradle of liberty" because of the many important historical events that shaped the colonies' fight for independence.

At left, Anna & Dr Pepper visit the historic Old State House, built in 1712-1713 and the oldest public building in Boston.   This was the site of the Boston Massacre, which fueled colonists' resentment against British rule in 1770.  On July 11th, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was proclaimed from the balcony to jubilant crowds below.

Two hundred years later for America's Bicentennial,  Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain toured the Old State House and shared remarks from the historic balcony, including the following:

"If Paul Revere, Samuel Adams, and other patriots could have known that one day a British monarch would stand on the balcony of the Old State House, from which the Declaration of Independence was first read to the people of Boston, and be greeted in such kind and generous words ...... well, I think they would have been extremely surprised! But perhaps they would also have been pleased to know that eventually we came together again as free peoples and friends to defend together the very ideals for which the American Revolution was fought."

Dating back to 1634, Boston Common is the oldest public park in America.  In its 280 years of existence it has served as a pasture for livestock, a site for public hangings and more recently a venue for speeches (Martin Luther King and Pope John Paul II), concerts, and the occasional protest rally.

The Massachusetts State House, the "new State House", stands near the top of Beacon Hill and adjacent to Boston Common.

Constructed on land once owned by the state's first governor, the State House opened in 1798.  The dome was first made of wood a few years later gilded in copper by Paul Revere's company.  In 1997, the dome was re-gilded in 23 carat gold.

Of note, the main doors at the top of the stairs in front of the State House are only opened on three occasions:  when the president visits; when a governor exits the building on his or her final day of office; and when a regimental flag is returned from battle.

One of the most popular Boston tourist attractions is a place "where everybody knows your name."  Cheers Boston - first known as the Bull & Finch Pub - is a must see for fans of the long running TV show Cheers.  The pub was the inspiration for the hit NBC show featuring colorful characters like Sam and Diane, Norm and Cliff, Frasier and Lillith.

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Kelsey Grammer, who played the part of Dr. Frasier Crane and later starred in the Cheers spinoff Frasier was featured in this 2008 Dr Pepper commercial.

http://youtu.be/LHsIbjB5Ck0

And the same year, the instantly recognizable theme song for Cheers was used in a Diet Dr Pepper commercial.

http://youtu.be/U0scT-HAR9g

Boston was the first city in the United States to have an underground rail line..
The subway, which became operational, in 1897, is known as The T.

Happy Birthday, America!

It's the fourth of July and we salute the greatest nation on the face of the earth - the United States of America.  The country's awash in Red, White, and Blue and we are too as we celebrate America's 238th birthday.  We honor our forefathers who fought, labored, created, dreamed, and persevered to build a nation of power and opportunity -- a nation secure in itself to be willing to help out the rest of the world.

Today, the patriotic standard God Bless the USA will be heard and sung by millions of Americans in July 4th celebrations from sea to shining sea.   A memorable moment in the aftermath of 9/11 was Lee Greenwood's performance of his song prior to Game 4 of the World Series as a tattered American flag -- recovered from the destruction of Ground Zero -- waved proudly as he sang.  Click the link below as we remember....

http://youtu.be/PvPgYLhOq24

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America's greatness can be expressed in some poignantly comedic ways....like this classic scene from the movie Stripes when actor Bill Murray's character John Winger inspires his fellow U.S. Army recruits.

http://youtu.be/YXjqTyQuq4w

Celebrate the 4th with Dr Pepper's first new flavor in five years.  Dr Pepper Vanilla Float is available in select locations for a limited time.

Dr Pepper's Tribute To The American Spirit

Click the link below for a recently produced commercial from Dr Pepper that honors the unique spirit and steely resolve of America.

http://youtu.be/xEyd6UYG9yw

Anna Across America - Talladega Superspeedway

It's called Talladega Superspeedway for a reason.  One of NASCAR's
fastest tracks with speeds of more than 200 miles per hour, Talladega
draws up to 100,000 race fans to its track outside Anniston, Alabama.

The track first opened in 1969 on the site of a former Air Force base.
It once had a capacity of 175,000 but has been pared down dramatically in recent years.   Talladega hosts two Sprint Cup races each year.  The
Spring race was won by Denny Hamlin.

The grand entrance to Talladega Superspeedway declares "This Is Talladega."

In reality, THIS is Talladega as seen below....

http://youtu.be/fRPl1E0UQnE

The AAA tour has now visited four renowned tracks during our nationwide pilgrimage - Talladega Superspeedway, Indianapolis Motor Speedway(May 30th),  Bristol Motor Speedway (March 14th) and Atlanta Motor Speedway (February 22nd).

Anna Across America - Cleveland (The Heart of Rock and Roll)

The Hard Rock Rocksino near Cleveland - the first of its kind for the Hard Rock brand - combines gaming with live entertainment on several stages.

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As seen in a posting last Fall, Cleveland is home to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  Gene Simmons ("Dr. Love") of KISS, a 2014 inductee to the Hall, was featured in this Cherry Dr Pepper commercial.

http://youtu.be/-sOwFRW9rbI

                                                                                                                                 Photo Credit:  D Trundle