Barrman
Well-known member
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- Location
- Giddings, Texas
My county has a fair and a rodeo each May. So, they kind of combine the events and Memorial Day and have a single parade for them all. Today was the parade. The local VFW approached me a year ago about me driving them in the M715. We did two parades last year. They made me an honorary member (I was in the National Gaurd and Army Reserve, but never went active duty or left CONUS, so I don't qualify.) and now expect me to do all the parades with them.
They stuck flags in all the troop seat supports and put magnetic banners on the doors. Then we loaded up some Vets and did a parade. But, before the parade started the judges presented me with the "Most original vehicle" 1st place trophy. That was kind of neat. I donated the trophy to the VFW, but I got a picture of it on the hood before they took it away.
The traveling Vietnam Wall is in town this week as well. There was just enough time after the parade to get home, get some water and then head out to the football stadium for a big ceremony. We happen to have 4 veterans here in town who were in the 7th Regiment of the 1st CAV in November of 1965. I had been buying my gravel from one of them for years without knowing anything about it. Until he saw my M715 a year or so ago and we got to talking. Anyway, they got some of the other Ia Drang Valley veterans in the area to show up and the 10 of them along with some current 1st CAV troopers from Ft. Hood were honored while a bag pipe group played Gerry Owen. Pretty moving deal for those of us who know what all the different symbolism meant. I think Colton has figured it all out by now. I know I have tried.
I won't make any more parades this summer because of M715 activities in Colorado, so the M715 is going to get converted over to half doors and rear seat making it summer fun ready as soon as the 90 degree temps go down in a few hours.
Hopefully, all parades in the future will be with the Gasser.
They stuck flags in all the troop seat supports and put magnetic banners on the doors. Then we loaded up some Vets and did a parade. But, before the parade started the judges presented me with the "Most original vehicle" 1st place trophy. That was kind of neat. I donated the trophy to the VFW, but I got a picture of it on the hood before they took it away.
The traveling Vietnam Wall is in town this week as well. There was just enough time after the parade to get home, get some water and then head out to the football stadium for a big ceremony. We happen to have 4 veterans here in town who were in the 7th Regiment of the 1st CAV in November of 1965. I had been buying my gravel from one of them for years without knowing anything about it. Until he saw my M715 a year or so ago and we got to talking. Anyway, they got some of the other Ia Drang Valley veterans in the area to show up and the 10 of them along with some current 1st CAV troopers from Ft. Hood were honored while a bag pipe group played Gerry Owen. Pretty moving deal for those of us who know what all the different symbolism meant. I think Colton has figured it all out by now. I know I have tried.
I won't make any more parades this summer because of M715 activities in Colorado, so the M715 is going to get converted over to half doors and rear seat making it summer fun ready as soon as the 90 degree temps go down in a few hours.
Hopefully, all parades in the future will be with the Gasser.
