Nov. 6, 2018
Liz Writes Life
Sky was autumn blue, bright yellow leaves were still on the trees and barely a frost on the windshield last Saturday morning. Yep, it was a great day for the 18th Annual Veterans’ Parade in Etna. We sure do appreciate all the help and support, especially the veterans that showed up and participated. We really do want to show appreciation for you and your military service. I, like many citizens, like my freedoms – including the one, where I get to vote today!
First, a very big thanks goes to the Rotary Club of Scott Valley for sponsoring the parade and providing the needed liability insurance. Once again, Rotarians Vinnie and Bob McNeil, Prudence Magnuson and Davey Martin lined-up and spaced the parade. (I hope I didn’t miss anyone!) Every year, Duane Eastlick, brings a port-a-potty. It is important to have up there at the Etna High School -- while everyone is waiting. And, Duane donates it. This is a grass-roots parade and we do it on a shoe-string budget!
The Etna Police Dept. provided the P.A. system, blocked-off the streets and parking areas – and kept the peace. (That part was pretty easy as everyone seemed to enjoy socializing and the sunshine.) Heather Ford was a great help on our little committee. Thank you, Heather!
It was a pretty large parade with 35 entries; took about 40 minutes – just right for a home-town parade. Scott Murphy did a great job as announcer. As they went by on Main St. he asked the veterans their names and branch where they served. A few entries were out-of-order, but he rolled with the flow.
Jimmy Sutter and Kip Whipple barbecued hotdogs until they were gone. Etna High School Interact Club served chili and cookies were available when checking out the Museum. I hope the Lions Club Christmas Sale was also successful. I apologize for failing to mention it in my column last week. Oops!
Riley Kutzer, an Etna High School student, sang a beautiful national anthem right at 11 a.m. as Theodora and David Johnson rode their horses up Main St. carrying the American and California flags in honor of their grandfathers who served.
Grand Marshal, Dave Harrison, rode with Dennis Honea in his 1936 gorgeous green 1936 Ford. Dave served in the Army and Dennis in the U.S. Navy Sea Bees. Then, Ryck Kramer, Army, was a hit on his trusty Kubota tractor.
Next, we want to thank Michael Stapleton for decorating his trailer with hay bales, banners and flags for veterans to ride. Michael served in the Air Force. On the float were Joe Hudson, Buddy Simas, Steve Radford, Mark Dean and Bill Beckwith. The Facey family drove a bright red truck with 2016 Grand Marshal Albert Facey and his nephew, Sam Facey. Both served in the Army.
Karen Clark brought over the Yreka Jackson Street Marching Band and performed several lively numbers. Sure is nice to have a live band! Then the Etna Lions Club float touted more veterans with Dave Bradford, George White, Peter Wright, Corky Gussman, Dmitri Iannois, Mark Gepford and Manny Fernandez.
Several members of Fred Scott’s family joined Fred, Marine, who rode in a 1941 original Willies jeep with son-in-law, Jeremy Ravenscroft. Fred’s daughter, Cara Ravenscroft, was unique riding her blue-starred white horse, carrying an American flag and her little dog riding in the rumble seat behind her saddle. Looked pretty cute!
Mason McCoy, from Yreka, served in the Navy and drove his restored 1953 Chevy Suburban. Dotty’s cafe owners, Christy and Robert Bartneck, drove their roadster with cute kids in the back. Chip Port, from Montague, drove his 1991 five-ton B-M-Y military truck loaded with a 1970s F-M-C armored infantry tank. Impressive!
Announcer Scott asked about his top speed, when driving over Forest Mountain. Ten miles per hour was the answer. My goodness, thanks for your dedication Chip to make the long trip over to Etna. That fuel cost wasn’t cheap!
Siskiyou Co. Sheriff Jon Lopey, served in the Marines, Army and Army Reserve, drove a military Hummer. With him were Siskiyou Co. Veterans Service Officer, Tom Jackson, and retired Army First Sergeant Jerry Schumacher. There was also the Search and Rescue Snowcat; and Reserve Deputy, Jim Jacobsen, drove the hot DARE Camaro!
Gary Koopman, Army, entered his 1941 military Dodge WC 17 half-ton carryall. Then the Top of the State chapter of the Back Country Horsemen rode their horses to honor the veterans. Native Daughters of the Golden West rode in Linda Beverlin’s husband’s 1957 Fairland, 500 Skyline with a retractable hardtop. I saw Linda, Vonita Bishop and Francyne Jenner riding in that convertible. It looked like they were having a good time.
Clara Johnson entered her miniature horse and Alan Piersall, Air Force, rode with her in her cart. The Sis Q A’s Car Club like to show-off their Model A Fords that were first built in 1927. They were decorated red, white and blue. Paystreak Brewing decorated its pickup with American flags to salute military veterans. Deborah Beam, owner, is the proud mom of Purple Heart veteran, Forrest Rose, who served in Afghanistan in 2012.
Members of the Etna Chapter of the Future Farmers of America walked next and then came the Boy Scout of America Troop 99. Tim Grenvik, Air Force, and his son, Tyler Grenvik, Navy, invited Siskiyou Co. Supervisor of Dist. 5, Ray Haupt, to ride in their pickup and looked like a happy bunch.
The Siskiyou Co. Republican Central Committee entered a pickup with signs suggesting how to vote in the General Election, today. Then, the Dodge Brothers Car Club rumbled-up the street. The owners are right proud of the rust on their old vehicles. Because the most important thing is that they still run!
Letting off some loud bangs were the Siskiyou Mountain Men and Women and more noise could be heard from the Christian Motorcyclist Assoc. who also drove a ways on the frosty morning. Thanks to my contact, Dean Harris, for letting the group’s president know we like to have them participate!
Smokey Bear rode on top of a U.S. Forest Service vehicle. And then we had a bunch of fire and rescue vehicles from the Scott Valley Fire Protection District, Etna Volunteer Fire Dept., Etna Ambulance, Fort Jones Volunteer Fire Dept., and Cal Fire. Tony Stacher, with the Etna Police, closed up the parade driving the city’s pickup.
Sorry, if I missed a few entries. They came late, which I encourage, but I didn’t have the info on them. Thanks for participating!
Ceremonies
There are several Veterans' Day ceremonies at cemeteries this Sunday, Nov. 11th. I just learned that a plaque honoring Mike Adams, who served in the Coast Guard, will be presented at Yreka's Evergreen Cemetery at 11:30 a.m. on Nov. 11th. Mike was president of Scott Valley Protect Our Water, when he passed away two years ago. He was also active in the Yreka Tea Party Patriots.
Liz Bowen began writing ranch and farm news, published in newspapers, in 1976. She is a native of Siskiyou County and lives near Callahan. Call her at 530-467-3515. Check out her blog at: LizWritesLife.blogspot.com.
# # #
No comments:
Post a Comment