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ARMED
FORCES WEEK |
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To comment or request information: pop@ipspress.com
For veterans and other information: National Armed Forces Day Observance April Parade Information and Staff
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April 14, 2009
Chattanooga
celebrates 60th Annual Chattanoogans are notably patriotic, as indicated by the city’s longstanding tradition of celebrating Armed Forces Day with a parade and other events – a tradition that has continued in Chattanooga without interruption since President Harry Truman set Armed Forces Day aside August 31, 1949. Heading this year’s Armed Forces Day events are chairman Jim Coppinger and military project officer Gen. B.B. Bell (Ret), a Tennessean. ParadeThis year the Chattanooga Area Veterans Council (CAVC) are honoring the nation’s military with the 60th annual Armed Forces Day Parade and events. Friday, May 1, in downtown Chattanooga, the Armed Forces Day parade will begin at 10:30 a.m. at Market Street and MLK. The Army Ground Forces Band, headquartered at Ft. McPherson in Atlanta, Ga., will lead the parade. Each year the parade highlights a single branch of service, and the Army is this year’s honored branch. Col. Joe Geren, former commander of the 196th Field Artillery headquartered in Chattanooga, is serving as parade marshal. Col. Geren now commands the Tennessee Army National Guard's 117th Regional Training Institute in Smyrna. JROTC units from are schools will march in the parade, under the coordination of Colonel Tom McConnell. Other participants will include units from military services, area veterans groups, high school bands, elementary schools, businesses, and patriotic organizations. LuncheonA luncheon at the Trade Center will be held following the parade. General Charles C. Campbell, Commander, United States Army Forces Command, is the honored guest speaker. As Commander of the Army’s largest organization, Gen. Campbell is responsible for the oversight, manning, training, and equipping of 750,000 Active Duty, Reserve, and National Guard Soldiers when mobilized for combat operations. To reserve your seat at the luncheon, call 423.756.4419. Reception A VIP reception is planned prior to the parade on Thursday, Ap. 30, from 6-8 p.m. at American Legion Post 95. Light refreshments will be served. Concert Additionally, as part of the Armed Forces celebrations, the Army Ground Forces Band, on tour from Atlanta, will perform May 1 at the Chauncey Goode Auditorium at Tennessee Temple University. This rousing patriotic program is open to the public and will begin at 6 p.m. The 58 Soldiers assigned to the band have passed highly selective auditions and are among the finest musicians in the United States Army Band Program. The majority of the Band's members have studied music at leading universities and conservatories in the United States and abroad. For more information, please visit www.thecavc.com.
For further information, go to the website: Material on this site is available for use in promotion of the observance.
Armed Forces Day Parade Committee Website provided by IPS and IPS Features
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