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CHATTANOOGA, TN, May 1, 2007--The 57^th continuous staging of the Armed Forces Day Parade will be held in Chattanooga on Friday, May 4, beginning at 10:30 AM for the 58th year. 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 Air Force will be honored this year as each branch of service takes its turn in rotation. The Chattanooga Area Veterans Council sponsors the event.

Don Loftis is parade chairman and Capt. Marty Malone is military project officer. Gen. Bruce Carlson will be the keynote speaker for the luncheon at noon in the Convention and Trade Center following the parade.

Staging for the parade will be 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.

Included in the observance will be an ESGR breakfast May 3 at 7 AM in the Crystal Room at the Choo Choo. Bill Hewitt at 894.3568 can be reached for details. There will be a VIP reception held in the National Guard Armory on Hotlzclaw Avenue on May 3 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.

Current members of the parade committee, in addition to the chairman and project officer, are CAVC representative--Charles Bates, secretary--Dawn Patton, treasure--Dan Lovin, legal advisor--Ward Crutchfield, advertising/media—Pete Chaney, Earl Freudenberg and Cynthia Fagan, billboards—Willard Sisson, photography—Pete Chaney, civic speakers—Mark Parks, telephone—Jan Bruce, reception—Jim Shull, luncheon—Carl Levi, breakfast—Bill Hewitt, military bands—Capt. Marty Malone, static displays—Ray Belvin, military VIPs—Patty Parks, civilian VPS—Don Loftis, vehicle signs—Jim Shull, parade cars—Dan Lovin, school bands—Rick Chambers and Joel Denton, buses—William Blake, JROTC—Col. Tom McConnell and MSG Mark Rehrer, participation—Mary Smith and Kim Ratcliffe, military flyover—Capt. Marty Malone, reviewing stand—Burt Sawyer, staging—SSG Reid, permits/VIP parking—Carl Levi, walkie talkies/phones—John Lopez, street banners/flags—Ernie Seagle and additional volunteers—Johnny Horne and Capt. Wade Nordberg.

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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

CAVC Homepage

Photos by Pete Chaney, IPS Features, unless otherwise indicated.

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Pete Chaney, editor and webmaster

05/13/2007 08:13:35 AM