CAVC

Severing veterans
and their organizations
of Tennessee,
Georgia and Alabama

The Chattanooga
Area Veterans Council

This web site is respectfully dedicated
to all those who have served, are serving
and will serve in the military of the
United States of America--and to those
who wait and support them.

Home page

Links and
sponsors

Armed Forces Week Celebration

Supporting Those Who Protect Us

Sponsored by the Chattanooga Area Veterans Council

P.O. Box 24984

USARMY Chattanooga, Tennessee 37422

March 10, 2009

Fellow Patriot,

On behalf of the Chattanooga Area Veterans Council’s Armed Forces Week Celebration Committee, I am honored to invite you to participate in the 2009 Armed Forces Day Parade at 10:30 AM on Friday, May 1, 2009. This year celebration will honor the United States Army. Co Chairmen for 2009 are Military Chairman General B.B. Bell and Civilian Chairman Commissioner Jim Coppinger.

This year marks the 60^th consecutive year for our annual tribute to America’s Active Duty and Reserve military personnel. The parade date was moved from the traditional Armed Forces Day to allow the JROTC and school bands a chance to participate.

Currently, Chattanooga is one of only a handful of cities in the nation to honor the defenders of our freedom with an Armed Forces Day Parade. The national media outlets as well as national celebrities have been invited to attend.

As the Parade Participation Chairman, I am responsible for the assembly, coordination and conduct of the parade. In order to ensure we have a patriotic, well orchestrated, safe – as well as legal – parade, the Committee has established certain conditions that must be met in order to be granted permission to participate in the parade. Please carefully read and comply with these conditions as stated in the attached sheet titled, “Conditions For Participation”.

Please complete and return the enclosed application by 10 Apr 09 if your organization wishes to participate this year. Prompt responses are necessary because of the limited time remaining and the limitations of the parade staging area itself. The information provided will be used by the parade announcer, so please ensure it is accurate and complete. A detailed parade order number and coordination instructions will be provided to you by 24 Apr 09.

I am looking forward to your reply and to honoring the members of our Armed Forces who are presently serving our great nation. Please contact me if I can be of further assistance.

Sincerely,

Kim Ratcliffe, Armed Forces Parade Participation Chairman

(2)

CHATTANOOGA AREA VETERANS COUNCIL

APPLICATION FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE 2009 ARMED FORCES WEEK

CELEBRATION PARADE

Friday May 1, 10:30 AM

CONDITIONS FOR PARTICIPATION

The following guidelines are conditional to allowing participation in the parade:

1. Each applicant will submit duly executed application for participation in The Armed Forces Week Celebration Parade (referred to herein as the “Application”).

2. Each applicant shall furnish evidence of insurance in accordance with the Application.

3. Each participant agrees to abide by the regulations provided in the Application.

4. Each participant agrees to abide by the coordinating instructions to be provided to each participating organization not later than 15 Apr 08.

5. Each applicant acknowledges that the Chattanooga Area Veterans Council Armed Forces Week Celebration Committee shall review each application and reserves the right of final approval for an applicant's participation in the parade.

CHATTANOOGA AREA VETERANS COUNCIL

Application For Participation In the 2009 Armed Forces Week Celebration Parade

In consideration of being permitted to participate in the 2009 Chattanooga Armed Forces Week Celebration Parade, each applicant agrees to be bound by and to comply with the following conditions and rules:

1. The undersigned, as the representative for the organization, does hereby Release the Chattanooga Area Veterans Council Armed Forces Week Celebration Committee, its principals, and all representatives thereof, from any and all claims for damage, demands and actions whatsoever in any manner, as a result of participation in the Armed Forces Week Celebration Parade or any associated activities.

2. The undersigned understands the inherent risks involved in participation in The Armed Forces Week Celebration Parade (being historically slight with no known injuries in 58 years) and accepts full responsibility for the risk in participating in the parade. The person responsible for the organization will have all participants sign the enclosed waiver and maintain it on file.

3. The applicant will at all times fully comply with all ordinances, rules, laws and regulations: federal, state and local; in any way applicable to the Armed Forces Week Celebration Parade, and any associated activities. The applicant will at all times fully comply with all rules and regulations furnished to the undersigned at any time prior, during and subsequent to the parade.

4. The applicant submits, herewith, a signed certificate or duplicate policy of Insurance, naming the Chattanooga Area Veterans Council's Armed Forces Week Celebration Committee as additional insured with comprehensive (broad form) general liability in minimum amounts of $100,000 Injury or Death to one person and $50,000 property damage.

5. Parade entrant guidelines:

a. The Parade's purpose is to honor those actively serving in the U.S. Military. The parade theme is “Supporting Those Who Protect Us”.

b. Participants must provide their own transportation for those desiring to ride in

the parade. However Trailers are available for those organizations desiring a float.

Call Kim Ratcliffe at (423)296-2611.

c. Vehicles must be safe and designed so as not to damage public roadways (i.e., no tracked vehicles, equipment, etc., without the express prior approval of the City of Chattanooga. Participants must not distribute, peddle, solicit orders for sales, or advertise within the unit or during the parade.

a. The only sign allowed for each participating group will include the Unit's name and location. Commercial, political or personal agenda signs, banners or flags will be disallowed except to designate the sponsor. Signs, banners and displays are subject to approval by the Parade committee.

b.Any emphasis on flags will be on the flag of the United States of America. In addition, one set of "unit Colors" that helps to identify the unit may be allowed (i.e., regimental Colors, Armed Forces colors, school Colors, post Colors.)

c. The participant acknowledges that any activity that could cause public disorder, alarm or injury to any person or animal is prohibited, including offensive language, noise or odors, etc. Each organization accepts collective and individual liability for any disruption or injury caused by its behavior and participation. Any applicant may be refused if the parade committee feels the equipment, motif or proposed entry poses a danger to themselves or to the public safety and welfare.

d.The participant acknowledges that its conduct or unit equipment will not interfere with or impede other parade participants.

e.Participants shall follow motif or recognition for Armed Forces Week and established military organizations of the United States military or school or other applicants which are applying for entry for the first time should show how they are appearing in support of the Armed Forces.

f. The committee reserves the right to restrict the number of entries to maintain an orderly and timely event. Due to the time restrictions for traffic disruption of the downtown area, we are forced to ask that marching units WILL NOT perform stationary drills or song performances. All bands need to execute all performances while marching along the parade routes at the speed designated. The Official Reviewing party is to review the parade in a military marching drill style to ensure the smooth flow along the parade route. No "mini-concerts" or special drills performed at the halt before the reviewing stand can be allowed.

g. Military & JROTC Units will perform according to standard drill cadence as established by their respective National branch of service Drill & Ceremonies Manual.

Failure to comply with these Conditions for Participation will result in your organization being denied future invitations.

PLEASE FILL OUT THE FOLLOWING APPLICAION INFORMATION COMPLETELY AND RETURN PAGES 5-7 BY 10 APRIL 09 TO:

Armed Forces Day Parade Committee

P .O. Box 24984

Chattanooga, TN 37422

ATTN: Kim Ratcliffe

(5)

PLEASE FILL OUT THE FOLLOWING APPLICAION INFORMATION COMPLETELY AND ONLY RETURN PAGES 5-7 BY 10 APRIL 09

KEEP PAGE 8 FOR YOUR RECORDS

Parade Date May 1, 2009 10:30 AM

Ensure that all participating sections from your organization are included. (Attach additional sheets as required.)

Name of School or Organization___________________________________________________

Street or Mailing Address. ________________________________________________________

City, State, Zip Code. ____________________________________________________________

Phone Number __________________________________________________________________

As the official representative of ____________________________________________________,

I understand and agree that all participants from the above organization agree to abide by the Conditions for Participation as set forth by the Chattanooga Area Veterans Council.

________________________________________________________________________________

Signature of Representative Printed Name

________________________________________________________________________________

CHATTANOOGA AREA VETERANS COUNCIL

Application For Participation In the 2009 Armed Forces Week Parade May 1, 2009 10:30AM

PLEASE FILL OUT THE FOLLOWING APPLICAION INFORMATION COMPLETELY AND RETURN PAGES 5-7 BY 10 APRIL 09

Names of Officers or Responsible Officials (Please Print)

1.__________________________________ Title_______________________Phone____________

2._________________________________ _Title_______________________Phone_____________

Person in charge during parade participation:________________ ____________________________________________

Describe your organization’s relationship with or support for the Armed Forces:

_________________________________________________________________________________

Has this unit participated in the Chattanooga Armed Forces Week Parade before? Yes____No_____

How will the unit’s participation emphasize the Parade’s theme and support for the American Armed Forces? _________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

Does the unit have it’s own “Colors”?_______ If so , please describe briefly.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Does your organization have it’s own professionally designed/produced sign or banner announcing it’s name/location? ______________

If not, please state the unit’s official name/title and location.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Would the unit have at least two persons available to carry a sign or banner should one be provided for it?

_______________________

(7)

Type of Entry: Will you have? For all entries please list over all length. It is hard to estimate the space needed to line up a 9 ton truck with howitzer or 185 member JROTC Battalion.

a. Vehicle(s): type ( bus, truck, van, armored) Qty of each_________________________

Special Passenger that should be recognized please list below in the information

b. Band: Number of Members________________ Approx Length _____________

c. Float(s): Approximate Length include towing vehicle _______________________

d. Drill Team: Number of People______________________________

e. JROTC: Number of People___________________Approx Length______________

f. Animals: Type_________________________Number of Animals_______________

g. Other: ___________________________________________________________________

IMPORTANT - Information you desire to be announced as the unit passes the reviewing stand. (Name of entry, Sponsor, Leader, Band Director, Background Information, Support for parade’s theme, if not readily apparent. Think of the New Year’s Rose parade or Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade) THIS INFORMATION IS REQUIRED FOR THE APPROVAL OF YOUR APPLICATION. PLEASE GO INTO DETAIL. Bands PLEASE list name of musical selections you will perform.

_________________________________________________________________________________

The undersigned, as the representative for the organization, certifies all members have signed the enclosed waiver, or copy thereof, and maintain it on file.

This application is signed on this _____________day of ______________________, 2009 by the undersigned on behalf of the applicant.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Signature Date

_________________________________________________________________________________

Printed Name Title

_________________________________________________________________________________

Organization Name

_________________________________________________________________________________

Street Address City, State, Zip

(8)

Parade Date May 1, 2009 10:30AM

Waiver Statement

Please Retain This Sheet on File At Your Organization

I, the undersigned, as a member of _______________________________________________do herby release the Chattanooga Area Veterans Council Armed Forces Week Celebration Committee, its principals, and all representatives thereof, from any and all claims of damage, demands, action whatsoever in any manner, as a result of our participation in the Armed Forces Week Celebration Parade or any associated activities. I understand the inherent risks involved in participation in the Armed Forces Week Celebration Parade (being historically very slight with no known injuries in 59 years) and accept full responsibility for the risk in participation in the parade.

Signature Date / Signature Date

____________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________