TORRANCE TRIBUNE May 19, 2016 Page 7 TerriAnn in Torrance Armed Forces Day Parade – A-57 Year Tradition Story and photos by TerriAnn Ferren This year, Torrance celebrates its 57th consecutive Armed Forces Day Celebration and Parade on Saturday, May 21 at 1:30 p.m. We are honored with Grand Marshal, General Robert B. Abrams, the 22nd Commander of U.S. Army Forces Command, who will lead the parade down Torrance Boulevard. Our parade honors our men and women who serve, and have served in the military. Each year, one of the five branches of military is highlighted, and this years honored branch is the United States Army. The City of Torrance is also honored to have Brigadier General Malcolm B. Frost, Chief of Public Affairs for the U.S. Army at the Pentagon in Washington D.C. present at our parade and concert. For the second year in a row, acting as parade announcer, Emmett Miller will call out the entries as they roll down Torrance Boulevard past the viewing bleachers. All five branches of the Armed Forces are represented, along with military vehicles including Humvees, Abrams Battle Tanks, and armored personnel carriers. Additional honored VIP’s are: Major General Joseph M. Martin, Army, Major General Mark Palzer, Army Reserve, Major General Lawrence A. Haskins, Army National Guard, Brigadier General Paul K. Lebidine, USMC, Rear Admiral Mike Shatynski, US Navy, Lt. General Samuel A. Greaves, USAF, and Real Admiral Joseph A. Servidio from the Coast Guard. In favor and out of favor, and during all the turbulent times of the past, Torrance has held fast to the legacy and tradition of honoring those who serve, no matter what. It is with a sense of pride that the citizens of Torrance line the streets of Torrance Boulevard, eagerly showing appreciation to our men and women who serve. Keeping with tradition, a free patriotic concert will be held at the James Armstrong Theatre on Friday, May 20, at 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Free tickets are available on a first come – first served basis on Wednesday, May 18, with a limit of four tickets per adult. Call the box office at 310-781-7171 for further information. This year, The United States 300th Band, “Hollywood’s Own”, Southern California’s only Army Reserve Band, serving the American Southwest Region and the 63rd Regional Support Command, are performing. Chief Warrant Officer Jeff Smith directs this amazing band and travels not only coast-to-coast but internationally performing for radio and television, military ceremonies, and public concerts here at home and abroad. The mission of the United States 300th Band is, “along with all Army Bands, is to foster the support of the American people for our Armed Forces, tell the Army story through music, support diplomatic and humanitarian efforts around the world, and to inspire our soldiers to fight and win.” As a special treat, Emmett Miller will also introduce the concert on Friday night. This year, for the first time, The Armed Forces Day 5K Run/Walk, has been added, in tribute to Louis Zamperini, hosted by the Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce, and Village Runner. The event, scheduled on parade day, from 8 to 10 a.m., begins and ends at Del Amo Fashion Center on Madrona Avenue, between Carson Street and Fashion Way. Entry forms and fee information are available by calling the race hotline at 310- 375-2626 or by accessing www.villagerunner. com. T-shirts, computerized finish times, water stations, sponsor refreshments, and awards for the top 3 finishers in each age division will win a gift certificate to Village Runner. Donna Duperron, President and CEO of the Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce, told me the race starts not with an air gun, but with a cannon! Wow! Army groups running, marching, and calling out cadence, are signed up for the inaugural 5K Run/Walk, as well as teams from our own Police and Fire Departments – who are challenging each other. Sounds like a great way to begin the Armed Forces Day celebration. I wondered how many officers on the Torrance Police force are veterans and found out from Torrance Police Chief Mark Matsuda that, “We have several officers who are veterans representing all branches of the military.” Are there any serving in the reserves? “We have several officers who served in the Reserves, and were deployed to Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom. None however, are currently serving,” Chief Matsuda said. He went on to tell me, “The Police Department takes great pride at the opportunity to honor the men and women of our Armed Forces for the 57th consecutive year. It is a true partnership with the Torrance community as we collectively honor their sacrifice and service to our country.” Thinking back, I can remember when I was in high school and my sister, Linda, and our neighbor across the street, Kathy Monson, and I walked to Torrance Boulevard and waited for the parade. All the high school bands in town participated in the event, along with the drill teams, complete with flags, and even a few baton twirlers. My son, Christopher reminded me that one year while watching the parade, he got a little powder burn by some hot wadding, or something from a model ship when it shot off its blanks while we were sitting on the curb. Needless to say, we don’t allow anything like that anymore. Then there was the year the tanks dug up the blacktop on Torrance Boulevard – now the tanks ‘tracks’ have a covering, protecting our streets. In addition to being one of the very best parades ever, this year, Torrance will also host a ‘fly-by’ by a Black Hawk helicopter. There will also be an F-15 and 20 – 25 vintage planes flying over the parade route. Wow! Located at the Torrance Airport, the Western Museum of Flight will host an Armed Forces Day Ramp Review, on Saturday, May 21st from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. As a special treat, you can meet the pilots who will fly over the parade! If you haven’t been out to the museum lately, be sure to visit on Armed Forces Day. Located right in our own hometown, this museum holds memories, history, documents, planes, and much more. Check it out. Yesterday, I met with Jennifer Schepp, who has worked for the Police Department for eight years, and in the Traffic Division for about a year, who told me she loves what she does. Born and raised in the South Bay, Jennifer attended Torrance High School. Jennifer and has been ‘parade planning’ since last November and told me, “Last year I went to the parade after the luncheon, and this year we are going to have the Golden Knights parachuting in, and it will be awesome! And fly-overs as well. The exhibit [at Del Amo] will start on Friday morning at 10 a.m. and will go through 3 p.m. on Sunday. There will be an Army Black Hawk on the ground.” The parade begins at Crenshaw traveling west down Torrance Boulevard. Also included in the parade are a contingent of thirty-six WWII Veterans, along with the Tuskegee Airman, the Buffalo Soldiers, and the Montford Point Marines. “We also will have the L.A. Motor Drill Team,” added Jennifer. I asked Jennifer what is hardest part of her job and she told me, “Just getting everything in in time. We will get last minute entries.” I asked her if someone were interested in participating in next year’s parade, how would they go about it? Jennifer told me, “Just fill out an application and turn it in. It is as simple as that. I am excited. It is going to be big. The army is always a great participator and they have even more coming this year so it is going to be awesome. We have so much help and all of us have a hand in it - and we all help each other out. It is all of us and we know we are a team. We are really excited this year. Wear red, white, and blue, that is what everybody wears!” Plan on honoring our veterans and those who serve this Saturday, May 21 by attending the parade and joining the festivities all over town beginning with the 5K Run/Walk – and then on to the parade at 1:30 p.m. Remember to look up during the parade for the ‘fly-bys’ that will buzz Torrance Boulevard. And don’t forget our Del Amo Fashion Center displays, and the Western Museum of Flight exhibits. Thank you to all who have served in the military, and who are currently serving in the military. Also, thank you to the families of those who serve and who have served our country. The citizens of Torrance thank you. Happy Armed Forces Day! • “Our parade honors our men and women who serve, and have served in the military. Each year, one of the five branches of military is highlighted, and this years honored branch is the United States Army..” Jennifer Schepp. Torrance Chief of Police Mark Matsuda. 2016 TORRANCE ELECTIONS Residents and Business Owners
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