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Armed
Forces Week Observance |
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To comment or request information: pop@ipspress.com
For veterans and other information: National Armed Forces Day Observance
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Parade still on, but everyone is watching the skies. The final meeting of the 2003 Armed Forces
Observance Week in Chattanooga met at the Coast Guard Depot Wednesday
morning to complete last minute details for the parade set for Friday, May
9, at 10:30 AM. But all eyes
were on the sky with the threat of flooding. The parade is still scheduled to go on time.
Weather could call for a last minute cancellation, which will be
announced if necessary. Prior to day of the parade a VIP reception is
slated for the National Guard Armory Thursday from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM. Announcing parade entries will be Don Welch and
Kevin Smith. Keynote speaker will be Rear Adm. Duncan C. Smith
III. He is deputy Commander
of the Fifth Coast Guard District. Chattanooga is the only major city to have a
continuous Armed Forces Day observance since 1949.
The Chattanooga Area Council began sponsoring the event in 1994.
Jim Ratcliffe is chairman of the CAVC. Due to construction on Market Street, the parade
route is changed. It begins
at M.L. King and Broad, goes north to Fifth Street, west to Chestnut and
then north to Riverfront Parkway where it will disburse. Two last minute bands signed to march in the
parade. Central High and
Hixson High will take part. A
total of 45 units are expected. The cutter Quachita went back to the Coast Guard
Depot due to flooding. It had
been scheduled to be open for visitation at Ross’s Landing all week. Bill Knowles served the committee as civilian
chairman and CG Master Chief Gary Petty was the military chairman. The luncheon in the Silver Ballroom of the Read
House will begin immediately following the parade.
Call to order will be by Brig. Gen. Carl E. Levi, USA Ret., with an
invocation by Chaplain William B. Frown, Lt. Cmdr. of the navy. Chief Petty will lead in the Pledge of Allegiance
and Katie Parks will sing the National Anthem with accompanist James P.
Wilson. Welcome will be by Mr. Ratcliffe.
Chief Petty will introduce the military guests and Mr. Knowles will
introduce the civilian dignitaries. Lee Anderson of the Free Press will introduce the
speaker. Benediction will be
by Lt. Cmdr. Brown. In addition to Adm. Smith, visiting military
dignitaries will include Maj. Gen. John R. Tindall, Jr., USA Commanding
General 100th Division at Louisville, Ky.; Brig. Gen. Frank A. Pranter,
Jr., USMC, Commanding General Marine Corps Warfighting Lab at Quantico,
Va.; and Col. Craig J. Priebe, USAF, Director of Maintenance, A.F.
Material Command, Arnold Engineering Development Center, Arnold Air Force
Base, Tullahoma, TN. Tables for the luncheon were sold for $125 each as
a fund raising source for the CAVC to continue its work. The organization coordinates Memorial Day and Veterans Day
observances among its services. For further information, visit the Website: www.ipspress.com/afdparade.htm. |