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ARMED
FORCES WEEK |
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A special VIP
reception--2006--Tuckaseegee Airmen, the Coolidge family To comment or request information: editor@thecavc.com Chattanooga Area Veterans Council For veterans and other information: National Armed Forces Day Observance Return to
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Billboard rendition to publicize parade.
The 58th continuous staging of the Armed Forces Day Parade was held in Chattanooga on Friday, May 2, beginning at 11:30 AM. This is the only larger city in America to have the parade uninterrupted since President Harry Truman set aside the observance to honor the military on August 31,1949. The Coast Guard was honored this year as each branch of service takes its turn in rotation. The Chattanooga Area Veterans Council sponsors the event. Don Loftis was parade chairman and BM1 John Stamolis. military project officer. RADM Joel R. Whitehead, USCG was the keynote speaker for the luncheon at noon following the parade in the Convention and Trade Center. Staging for the parade was on Market Street south of M.L. King Boulevard. It will move north to Third Street and turn onto Broad Street for disbursement. Although Armed Forces Day is on May 20, Chattanooga celebrates the parade early to allow school participation. There was a VIP reception held at American Legion Post 95 on Ringgold Road on May 1 from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM. The Chattanooga Area Veterans Council, which coordinates activities for 47 organizations in the tri-state area, took over management of the parade in 1994 beginning in 1995. Veterans were recognized that year and service rotation began the next year. Call to order at the luncheon was by Carl Levi and Dr. David Bouler gave the invocation. BMS Stamolis led in the Pledge of Allegiance. Katie Park sang the National Anthem, accompanied by James P. Wilson. CAVC Chairman Bill Raines gave the welcome and introduced military guests, including Medal of Honor recipient Charles H. Coolidge, who attended with his wife Frances. Don Loftis introduced the civilian guests. Lee Anderson introduced the keynote speaker. Benediction was by Dr. David Bouler. Among the military dignitaries attending were Maj. Gen. Russ Cotney. Col . Joe Geren, Lt. Col. Ancil B. Garvin and Lt. Dillon Allen. Rudy Achata, Coast Guard Auxiliary was grand marshal. Parade committee members included Rudy Achata, Charles Bates, Ray Belvin, William Blake, Jan Brice, Rick Chambers, Pete Chaney, Jeff Clarke, Joel Denton, Cynthia Fagam, DaleHead, Matthew Heck, Bill Hewitt, Devron Holman, Carol Laing, Don Loftis, Dan Lovin, Marty Malone, Tom McConnell, Eric Merkle, Joe Miller, Wade Nordberg, Bill Norton, Patty Parks, Mark Parks, Dawn Patton, Gary Petty, Kim Ratcliffe, Mark Rehrer, Lee Rogers, Burt Sawyer, Ernie Seagle, Jim Shull, Willard Sisson, Dennis Smith, Mary Smith, John Stamoulis, David Thomas and Ronnie Williams.
******** Armed Forces Week 2007 Observance Armed Forces Week 2006 Observance Armed Forces Week 2005 Observance Armed Forces Week 2004 Observance Armed Forces Week 2003 Observance Armed Forces Week 2002 Observance Chattanooga Area Veterans Council Homepage Photos by Pete Chaney, IPS Features, unless otherwise indicated. Website provided by IPS and IPS Features 05/04/2008 10:29:04 AM |
