Posted on Tuesday, 10/13/2009 - 9:36 a.m. PDT — by Jim Davis
2009 Antioch Veterans’s Day Parage
November 11, 2009
11:00 am
Downtown Antioch
Application for parade participants can be downloaded from
Art4antioch.org
Entertainment by Singing Blue Stars at 10:00am on the stage at City Hall
(they are a must see...check out their web site, Singingbluestars.com)
Questions call
Mayor James Davis or Susan Davis
757-2020
Joined: Sep 2006
Current Posts: 1923
I went to the first one(last year?). Watching the parade made me very proud of our service men and women. The parade was even better than our 4th of July parade. I plan to be there again this year to support our present and past soldiers.
Joined: Mar 2008
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i will be there to support all the service men and women like last year.
Joined: Sep 2006
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It was really good last year. My only suggestion last year was it was too quiet while people were lining the streets waiting for it too start, so some band music, recorded or live, would be nice. I know that being pretty picky though, but that's because it was so great.
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A little John Phillips Souza music would be good :) Semper Fi
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Maybe some John Phillips music too: California Dreamin' , Monday Monday.
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Isn't that blasphemous for an ex-squid to write "Semper Fi"?
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I don't know about that, Mr. T, but I'm pretty sure it's blasphemous to play Monday, Monday on a Veteran's Day Wednesday, Wednesday.
What about that guy that plays bagpipes? I forgot his name, but I've seen him at the Council meetings. That would surely break the silence and people would hear it from far away and come on down to see what's going on.
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I suggested the bagpipes last year but I don't know if Arne can get away with wearing his Navy uniform with a kilt instead of trousers.
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Now that's blasphemous!
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[rimshot]
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Actaully, there were events when I was stationed in Scotland (black tie events) on base where use Chiefs and Officers would wear our Mess Dress jackets with a kilt!
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Well Arne, you've only got a few weeks to visit your local tanning salon to turn those legs of yours to a nice golden bronze.
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Can't wait for this!
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The knobby knees and hairy white legs are staying that way, thank you very much
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@arne,
hairy white legs
the last time at the council meeting you told me, that you shave your legs..what happens?
I will keep my GUNS, my FREEDOM, my MONEY, you can keep the CHANGE
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I checked their website, that group of singers, "The Singing Blue Stars of the USS Hornet," are going to be a real treat. It looks like they sing those songs typical of the Boogie Woogie Bugal Boy" style that were popular during WWII entertaining the troops. Sounds like a perfect group to start the festivities off with. Might want to get there at 10:00 to see them too.
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......an application of "Nair" also.
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Mr T, us Sailors always appreciated those seagoing bellhops :) (Okay, I am now ducking out of sight lol).
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Maybe not Mr.T,depends when and where i served with Marines for 10 years consecutive and gained alot of respect and friends as a Squid,Navy personnel serve side by side in combat,on ships special ops and ashore,i think that when Seper Fi is said by a sailor it would be out of respecct for the individual or the Corp. Semper Fi!
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Current Posts: 1457
I'd venture to say that I have been in my Navy Master Chief Mess Dress uniform attending more Marine Corps Birthday Ball than anyone who has posted here.
After one Marine Corps Ball held at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, the aid to a Marine General decided it was time to do "carrier landings".
The tables were lined up and one after another ran towards the line of tables and did a "landing".
As the Party was shutting down, the General invited my wife and I to open up a few bars on Cannery Row and he wouldn't let us pay for anything! We closed the last bar around 5 am.
I've taken Marines to sea with me and had them serving in my divisions overseas; so I can assure you that I have the greatest respect for Marines as part of the Naval Service.
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That's too bad the Pittsburg Marching Band won't be in the parade. They are a fan favorite.
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We will have prelude music/entertainment before the parade starts, starting at 10:00am on the stage at City Hall.
You can google their web site at singingbluestars . com
Thanks,
Mayor Davis
Joined: Sep 2008
Current Posts: 30
Hello Bazooka Joe,
Pittsburg High School stated they will not be in the parade, " they are to busy", per the Band Director, and the Principle and Superintendent "will not pay for the buses", also per the Band Director. Even thought they have no appearances that day.
They door is still open if they change their minds.They were here last year and were a major hit.
Mayor Davis
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Current Posts: 655
smokey i rode in the one last year and i could swear i seen you did u drive a silver little mini type shoot i dont know what they are but your twin was at the rear of the pack and if so u stood right behind me as we were assembling at city hall,i will ride this year i hope providing iam off work last year i rode tailgait with all the bikes and seen all the people along the way but when we rode into the cemetary and i seen all the people there clapping with flags i was floored i just showed up riding my bike and fit in with the pack at city hall. then all the people i know at my VFW post 6435 which iam a life member of and used to be JR. vice commander and were ther for the gun salute just floored me i just thought we were riding for the people on the street but man that was powerful,then at the ceremony they honored a soldier that had died in the iraq war his family was there to represent brought back memories for me i was stationed in hawaii when the war first started in 1990 i was stationed with a guard company with alot of marine friends of mine that went to saudi and all came back from that co. my job in hawaii was at west loch security partol boat division in which i had marines locked and loaded in my boston whaler guarding the water side of subs and special weapons carrying ships while onloading special weapons and i developed relationships with some of the best marines in the world,i will be very proud to ride in this cermony again this year.
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Arne is the closest person to this story who can relate to my story and is a shipmate.
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Not only can I relate, but my namesake son who served in the Army in the first Gulf War can.
He's also a member of the Antioch VFW Post.
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iam also a member,life member of post 6435 i was at on time Jr. vice commander there.
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Will they have any bands in the parade? I did not see a one for the 4th of July parade.
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just sit long enough on my chess tables (in the sun/ rain) i bet you start to sing....lol
I will keep my GUNS, my FREEDOM, my MONEY, you can keep the CHANGE
Joined: May 2007
Current Posts: 40
JoeCitizen,
I expect Jim Davis will tell us about bands at the parade.
I just wanted to clarify that we haven't been able to get the school bands for the 4th of July because the schools are out of session and (in the past) the band directors were not willing to organize the kids - since they are on vacation.
We fought that battle the 8 years that I organized the 4th of July Celebration. No way - no how.
Rick
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Current Posts: 435
When we suggested small school group bands, jazz or the like for the September fund raiser at the water park it was suggested to us it was too early. School had been in a month.
I don't understand the thinking.
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Current Posts: 4920
THE PIEDMONT HIGHLANDERS DRUMS AND PIPES!!!!!!
From the humor page on their website (Just a few, check it out, they have a bunch!):
Q: What's the difference between a bagpipe and an onion?
A: No one cries when you chop up a bagpipe.
Q: Why are bagpipers fingers like lightning?
A: They rarely strike the same spot twice.
Q: What single thing can you do to most greatly improve the quality of your bagpipe music?
A: Play it on the piano.
Q: How can you tell if a bagpipe is out of tune?
A: Someone is blowing into it.
Q: How do you get two bagpipers to play in perfect unison?
A: Shoot one.
Q: What's the difference between a dead snake in the road and a dead bagpiper in the road?
A: Skid marks in front of the snake.
Q: What does it mean when a bagpiper is drooling out both sides of his mouth?
A: The stage is level.
Q: What's one thing you will never hear someone say?
A: Oh, that's the bagpipe player's Porsche.
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BJ, You are in for it now! You may have Jim Davis and I both coming to Bases Loaded in our Kilts armed with our bagpipes!
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Spare us. I am Scottish too, very much so, but pass on the bagpipes.
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I had no idea Mayor Davis had bagpipes? In that case, he fits the perfect definition of a gentleman... someone who knows how to play bagpipes, but doesn't!
I'm kidding Arne, you know I'm a big fan of the Wicked Tinkers and nobody makes more noise than them!
Joined: Dec 2005
Current Posts: 1247
well, there is an other problem. arne shaves his legs, jd needs to shave too, it would not look right......
I will keep my GUNS, my FREEDOM, my MONEY, you can keep the CHANGE
Joined: Feb 2008
Current Posts: 19
As a band parent I know that the Antioch High School band will be at the parade on the 11th.
It's really hard to have school bands perform early in the year because the students are still learning the music for the year. Plus with fewer kids being able to take band in 7th and 8th grade we have a lot of students that are new to music in the high school band.
By the way, where is the Parade ending this year??
Joined: Sep 2006
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The high school bands and marchers are part of my reason for enjoying the parade last year. They set the spirit of a hometown parade. I will be there!
Joined: Sep 2008
Current Posts: 30
Hello Smokey,
We will have Liberty High School, Antioch High School and Deer Vally High School Marching Bands
I am still trying to get a yes or no from Pittsburg High School.
Hope to see you there Smokey, ( but I don't know who you are).
Mayor Davis
Joined: Sep 2006
Current Posts: 655
to bad we couldnt have the parade on a weekend i wanted to participate with my harley but unfortunatly on most holidays only 7-11s and my company are open lol i dont think i could get the time off many people will still have to work that day and miss out its to bad. jerry
Joined: Sep 2006
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Take a sick leave day off. It's a wonderful parade and a great way to show support for the sacrafice our soldiers make.
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Yeah Jerry, everybody is sick so they shouldn't question you. Then just come back the next day and say you thought you were sick, but you just had a reaction to the malathion you guys spray on the spiders.
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Right Bj, and his boss monitors these threads so he is shot out of the water before he gets there. lol
Joined: Sep 2006
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How would I know that? In that case, let's just pressure his Boss into letting him go.
WE WANT JERRY!
WE WANT JERRY!
WE WANT JERRY!
WE WANT JERRY! ...
Joined: Sep 2006
Current Posts: 655
some co-workers do monitor my posts,i could have prepared and took a vacation day but i just came off 33 days of work comp so vacation day isnt lookin that great,i think i will take a long shot and try because i really wanted to ride in this veterans day parade,i rode in the last run from city hall to 18th st. cemetary i had no clue that any one would line the streets let alone that the cemetary would have all those people there i was a late comer on that one but the patriotism was overwhelming.
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I really was kidding when I said that. Lol
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Oh... it that case I guess we should all stop chanting "We Want Jerry."
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no need to fear because jerry is here,i got the day off so i can attend. i know the parade goes very slow i just hope i dont burn my clutch out starting and stopping lol if so ile have to tie a rope to one of the floats. only problem is i dont have an application and my printer is broke anyone know when the dead line is?
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Call 757-2020 on Monday, Jerry.
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i will BJ thanx for the # . got my bike all shined up all ready and am ready to go.
Joined: Sep 2008
Current Posts: 30
Jerry, you are in. We are happy you can make it.
Just see Susan Davis at the parade check in around 10:00am 11/11 in front of the Antioch Lumber Company, she will log you in.
Mayor Davis
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Current Posts: 655
Thank You Jim i will check in with her i appreciate it.jerry
Joined: Sep 2006
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Thanks Dudeman. Hopefully some people do come by Bases Loaded since we will only be a couple blocks away from the Parade, we open at 11. Normally Wed is a slow day, but I just spoke with our manager who will be on duty tomorrow and she will have some extra staff working just in case. We didn't get many more during the Blues Festival, so it's hard to figure what will happen. As a mom and pop, we can't match what some of the other major franchises are doing to honor the veterans, but we will have a representative handing out some free coupons for veterans before the parade. It will be impossible to give everybody one, so she told me if a someone shows a card, like a VA hospital card, or other, showing they are a vet, she will honor the special which is one free appetizer or dessert per table, with purchase of an entree. The entree could be a hot dog. They will also let you get two appetizers and get the equal or lesser value one free.
BTW, has anybody seen that 1 pound hotdog we have? For $1.00 more, you can upgrade from the 1/4 hotdog, to that 1 pounder. It's a good deal, but every time I walk by the hot plate and see one on the counter, I crack up because it looks ridiculous. Even with the biggest bun it sticks out about an inch on either side of the bread. Still, for a dollar more, you could take half of it home and eat the rest for breakfast. I'd call it the Joey Chestnut dog, but I'm waiting for him to come in so I can get his permission first. :)
Dudeman, there's more parking than people realize, but go to the El Campanil Theatre website and click on the "Directions" tab. Rick had a map of the public parking lots and handicap spots available. Be sure to check out the "Coming Attractions" while you are there! Hope that helps a little.
P.S. Don't forget to get there at 10:00 for the singing group before the parade too!
Joined: Sep 2006
Current Posts: 1923
Will be looking for you in the parade. Can you maybe wear a yellow rose on your helmet so we know it's you?
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i wont have a yellow rose smokey but if i knew how to post a pic on the forum i would post a pic of my bike,e-mail me personaly and i will tell you what i will be wearing you cant miss it.jerry how do i post a pic on here
Joined: Sep 2006
Current Posts: 3041
JHD, to post a photo you must first download it to the hard drive in your computer. Then when you go to post, there is a "File Attachments" button on the left side right above "Preview Comment. Hit the "File Attachments" button and a "Browse" button will show up. Hit the "Browse" button and locate the photo from your hard drive you are trying to post. Once it is in the box, then hit "Attach" and it will attach it to your post. Then, you still have to hit the "Post Comment" button as usual for the post to take. Good luck.
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where on my hard drive i used to use aol but now i have a new version and cant go to file download manager and send it to my documents so iam at a loss on where to send the pic from my phone. any suggestions
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hey 001 i have an old computer if i cant make this work if u dont mind i can e-mail it to u and maybe u can post the pic of the bike,u can e-mail me thru the post and i can send it yo u. jerry
Joined: Sep 2006
Current Posts: 655
i want to get the pic up there for smokey so i dont have to wear a rose with leathers on a harley.lol i would borrow a red hat and wear that but that wont work either.lol
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i will have a patch on that u cant miss but i dont want to reviel everything to every one.jerry
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what you mean. Not everyone likes us on here. LOL I still think the yellow rose would go good with leathers LOL
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smokey i didnt see one red hat down there i was lookin for ya.jerry
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I think I saw you Jerry. There were a lot of motorcycles, but if that was you near the end of the line (about 4 or 5 from the back) on the North side of the street I got a picture of you too. Allen Payton was on the other side of the street from me, so he got in all my pictures too. Allen kept committing sideline infractions, going into the street to shake hands, but there was nobody around to throw a flag. LOL Barney Parsons flying through the parade like he had a plane to catch and leaving Martha behind was hilarious. The PA announcer at the stage had to tell him to stop.
That was really great. The Huey Helicopter making a couple low passes was neat, and all the vehicles, military and vintage cars were really cool looking. The bands that did show up did a fine job too.
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that was me,allen came out and shook my hand when we went by the stage on the north side right at the open parking lot,i went up and introduced my self to jim davis now he knows who JHD1200 is.lol
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Current Posts: 1923
It is great to see all the former service men in the parade. How about the car with all the MIA's names painted on the side? Where is that car from? I saw you go back to the other side of the street. Was that to get away from AP? The school bands were great and very synchronized for just being together since Sept. for the most part.
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all shined up for the parade,where were you smokey?
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Sorry JHD. I just got around to reading the posts now, and your bike photo has already been posted. Nice bike though.
Joined: Dec 2005
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if you have a pc with windows, you down load the picture to "My Pictures", after that you can upload it to this board
I will keep my GUNS, my FREEDOM, my MONEY, you can keep the CHANGE
Joined: Sep 2006
Current Posts: 655
i dont have an option to send it to pictures and when i try to send to documents like i used to my computer cant support it i just had my computer done and up graded now it sucks.
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i dont know if you will be around BJ but he knows me and what i look like.
Joined: Sep 2008
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Thank you Smokey,
Parade will go on, rain or shine, as the Veterans' never took time off.
We use the date 11/11 @ 11am which is the tradition. It is sad some have to work on this Federal Holiday, but when the Holiday falls on Monday or Friday we lose a lot of people over the three date week-end scenario.
The ironic part; many Veterans gave some, but some gave all, and by doing so, we have a choice (freedom and liberty) to attend these events or not, I choose to do so.
Thanks again, hope to see you there, please introduce yourself.
Mayor Davis
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Current Posts: 46
what time is the parade
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Current Posts: 30
11/11/09 @ 11am
Joined: Aug 2009
Current Posts: 53
Where is a good place to park down there. Also, where does it start and end. Lastly and food vendors or anything going to be out or we all going to bases loaded after. (you're welcome for the plug bj) :>
I'm pretty new to the area and dont make it to antioch that much (live in oakley)
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if you get there early enough u can park in front of BL and grab a bite.lol
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smokey where the heck are you youve been missing all day i was gunna take u for a ride on the bike but i couldnt find you it was gunna be a free ride day for red hatters.lol
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Current Posts: 655
smokey where the heck are you youve been missing all day i was gunna take u for a ride on the bike but i couldnt find you it was gunna be a free ride day for red hatters.lol
Joined: Sep 2006
Current Posts: 1923
I was in front of the former bank building across from the stage. I was the one covering my ears while the bikes were stopped there.
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Current Posts: 655
did u see allen payton come out and shake my hand? i was lookin for red hats during the whole ride but did not see u i was scanning the crowd pretty good but didnt see the red hats,oh well we will meet one day smokey.lol BJ has a pic of me i think i was lookin for him to but there were so many people but we were moving slow enough to where i thought i would see yall,i did have one active duty army soldier walk up to my bike and shake my hand i knew him before he went into the servive he wasnt the most privleged person growing up but i knew that seeing him in uniform he was a changed kid i wanted to go back around after the parade run and talk to him but every one pretty much left in a hurry after the harleys went thru i didnt know him really personaly but had had a conversation or two before he went in and i wanted to say isnt it a different life now and that i was proud of him. he will be a vet some day and that will be something he will be proud of for the rest of his life. on the day before vets day i was in starbucks on A st. and 18th and the guy behind me asked what branch did u serve and i told him navy he asked how long i said ten yrs and he said thank you for serving and that made my freakin day so for all of you civilians out there who have not served you would be astounded at how you can make a vet feel by saying thank you it absolutly will touch the guys heart,i spent the next ten or fifteen minutes saying to my self man he just thanked me damm that felt good,so when u all are out there and see an ol salty vet say thank you the vet will have a better day for your appreciation. when we join the armed services we write a blank check to our country redeemable for the price of our lives post dated until the end of our enlistments and that check would never bounce. god bless our service members and all veterans,fair winds and following seas. jerry collins,antioch.