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Chapter Participates in El Campo 2013 Christmas Parade: [posted on: 12-8-2013]

>>> NEW >>> Click here to see new parade pictures from Paul F. [posted on: 12-17-2013]

>>> NEW >>> Chapter float wins 3rd place in Parade - See story here [posted on: 12-17-2013]

2013 Christmas Parade Float

VVA Chapter 1069 participated in the El Campo Christmas parade, held on Thursday, December 5th, 2013. Thursday was a cold and windy in El Campo, with temperatures in the 40s, but fortunately the rain held off. A total of 13 Chapter members attended and rode the float in the parade. Most of the float was prepared on Thursday afternoon with several Chapter members helping with various tasks such as wrapping the trailer and bunker with camo cloth, attaching signs and logos to the sides of the trailer, installing lighting, etc. Work continued on the float until around 5:30 PM, when at that time the float was moved to the parade staging location near the H-E-B store.

The parade started at 7:00 PM and our float's position was at the head of the parade. The parade lasted about 45 minutes. Despite the very cold weather, many people did come to see the parade and were scattered all along the parade route. We played snippets of the more well recognized Vietnam-era music (58 songs total) all during the parade, along with many repetitions of Goooood Morning Vietnam The MP3 song files were provided by Bob Supak.

The Chapter would like to thank those members who helped Thursday afternoon with the float preparation, including, Leonard, Sternadel, James Kulcak, Fred Imler, Rusty Butts, Louis Milder, Bob Supak. A special thanks goes out to James Kulcak for allowing his place of business to be used as the staging area for the float build and also used as a pre-parade gathering site for Chapter members. James also spent time and materials to build (1) the bunker radio antenna, (2) the large VVA Chapter logo panels, and (3) the replica mortar tubes. There was a great effort to complete the float on Thursday afternoon in order to get it ready for the parade, and the Chapter thanks all those who came out to help.

The Chapter would like to also thank our local Veteran supporter (M.R.) for providing the 40 trailer that served as the parade float for our Chapter. He also provided a pickup truck for pulling the trailer along with a driver! We greatly appreciate the help!

Photo above shows Leonard Sternadel (Chapter president) with a 40 foot trailer that served as the parade float. In the picture it can be seen that Leonard and James Kulcak have already built the framing for the bunker and have attached hog wire to the sides of the trailer. Camo cloth was later attached to the hog wire with plastic wire ties.

Photo above shows James Kulcak wrapping the 40 foot trailer with camo cloth. Leonard Sternadel and Fred Imler are also wrapping the bunker atop the trailer with camo cloth. The bunker was used to house the sound man (Bob Supak) and the P.A. system that was used to play Vietnam-era music.

Photo above shows the float nearing completion. The lights have been installed and are being powered by the portable generator. From left to right: Kenneth Sternadel, James Kulcak, Rusty Butts & Louis Milder. Also a special thanks goes out to Louis for his help with the float and especially the use of his hand tools and air compressor.

Photo above shows just how much fun James Kulcak was having as he prepares to sock-it-to Leonard Sternadel.

Photo above shows one of the two VVA Chapter Logo panels that James Kulcak had made for the float. They are approximately 30" in diameter aluminum disks. James had The local El Campo print shop create the VVA decals that were then pasted to the panels. Thanks much James!

Photo above shows one of two signs Bob Supak made for the float. We thought it would be a good idea to display our website address on the float.

Photo above shows the two replica mortar tubes that James Kulcak built for the float. James also came up with the idea of placing small baloon through small hole at bottom of the mortar tube, squirting some baby powder down the tube, and then putting compressed air into the baloon until it pops, thus making a POW sound and blowing the powder out the end of the tube.

Photo above shows the bunker's radio antenna that James Kulcak made. It also shows the "FB HELEN" sign that was a must-have for the float.

Photo above shows the P.A. system that was used to play Vietnam-era music during the parade. At frequent intervals, the sound man would also make short announcements to the parade attendees who we were and also would wish them all a very Merry Christmas. Thanks to Bob Supak for bringing the P.A. system.

Photo above shows the P.A. sound system setup inside the bunker. This is where the sound man sat, selected and played various songs, and made periodic announcements to the parade attendees. Please note, that despite rumors that were rampant on the float during the parade, the sound man wants to make it very clear that THERE WAS NO HEATER IN THE BUNKER! :)

Photo above provides a visual clue as to how strong a wind was blowing all Thursday afternoon - and night!

Photo above shows a pretty-much completed float. Note that all the lights are on, including the Christmas tree atop the bunker, which by the way was provided by Leonard.

Photo above shows what the float looked like at night. In this photo, the float is parked at the pre-parade staging area.

Photo above shows an interesting detail - note the barrel ends of the mortar tubes - they are actually illuminated star-wars play swords that James Kulcak bought from a street vendor.

Photo above shows the float being pulled down the street. Again take a look at the two flags on the front of the float - Can you say WINDY AS HELL!

Photo above is the only picture we have showing all the guys on the float and do apologize for the poor quality. The Chapter again would like to thank all those members who made the effort to come out on such a cold day to help with the float build and to be in the parade. We hope that despite the cold weather, you did have a lot of fun. Let's do it again next year!

>>> NEW >>> Click here to see new parade pictures from Paul F. [posted on: 12-17-2013]

>>> NEW >>> Chapter float wins 3rd place in Parade - See story here [posted on: 12-17-2013]

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