Oceanside plans its biggest parade for troops Oct. 25

San Diego Union Tribune ^ | September 27, 2003 | Lola Sherman

[NordP]

Thanks for the ping!

I hadn't heard about this, either!

NordP

[RightField]

#14

DEFENDERS OF FREEDOM PARADE:
FREE SHUTTLE SERVICE

On Saturday, October 25, 2003, the City of Oceanside and the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce will host the Defenders of Freedom Parade at 10:00 a.m. on Coast Highway beginning at Wisconsin Avenue and terminating at Surfrider Way.

Public Parking and Shuttle Service
Free public parking for the parade will be available east of Interstate 5 at Mission Avenue and Brooks Street at the Brooks Street Swim Club, the Oceanside Senior Center and at the adjacent ballfield. A free shuttle service will begin on October 25 at 8:00 a.m. and will run at ten-minute intervals until 2:00 p.m. The shuttle will pick up parade-goers along the following route: Division Street to Country Club Lane to Maxson Street to Mission Avenue to Ditmar Street to Seagaze Drive.

Street Closures
The following roads will be CLOSED on October 25 from 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and posted for NO PARKING on October 25 from 2:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Coast Highway from Oceanside Blvd. To Windward Way
Fremont Street from Oceanside Blvd. To Washington Street
Surfrider Way from Coast Highway to The Strand
Mission Avenue from Horne Street to Coast Highway
Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Leonard, East, Stanley and Eucalyptus between Coast Highway & Tremont Mission Avenue from Coast Highway to Pacific Street CLOSED from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Road closures on October 25 from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m./
NO PARKING on Friday, October 24 from 12:00 noon to 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 25
Pier View Way from Ditmar to Coast Highway
Pacific Street from Surfrider Way to Seagaze Drive
Meyers Street from Seagaze to Civic Center Drive
Pier View Way from Meyers Street to Pacific Street
Mission Avenue from Meyers Street to Pacific Street
Civic Center Drive from Meyers Street to Pacific Street

Coaster Train Schedule
The Coaster will expand its northbound and southbound train schedule into Oceanside. The Coaster will leave San Diego at 8:20 a.m. and arrive in Oceanside at 9:20 a.m. in ample time for visitors to view the parade.

The Coaster will head southbound leaving Oceanside at 11:42 a.m. 12:45 p.m. and at 3:10 p.m.

For additional information about the parade, contact the Parade Hotline at 435-5228 or visit the web at City of Oceanside.

[ErnBatavia]

I wonder if they still have that stupid sign on the outskirts, that they had when I was stationed at CamPen..."Tan Your Hide in Oceanside".

[BJungNan]

bump for the troops!

[Hyacinth Bucket]

If any of you are interested, here's the link to the website of the Coaster commuter train:

http://www.gonctd.com/coaster/coaster.html/

[solitonic]

Thanks for this post. I'll be sure to attend too.

[pfflier]

Where is the nearest coaster station? Is there one downtown?

[Hyacinth Bucket]

Where is the nearest coaster station? Is there one downtown?

Hi. I got the following info from the Coaster website. http://www.gonctd.com/coaster/coaster.html

" Brief stops are made at seven stations heading south from Oceanside. Parking is free at each station the Coaster services (except Santa Fe Depot).

The address and city for each Coaster station include:

195 S. Tremont Street, Oceanside, 92054
2775 State Street , Carlsbad (Village), 92008
6511 Avenida Encinas, Carlsbad (Poinsettia), 92009
25 East "D" Street, Encinitas, 92024
105 N. Cedros Avenue, Solana Beach, 92075
11170 Sorrento Valley Road, (Sorrento Valley) San Diego, 92121
4005 Taylor Street, (Old Town Transit Center) San Diego, 92110
1050 Kettner Boulevard, (Sante Fe Depot in downtown) San Diego, 920101.

The COASTER operates Monday-Saturday (no Sunday service). For information on connecting transit, personalized travel planning and disabled services, call 1-800-COASTER (1-800-262-7837)."

I hope the station at Kettner Blvd will work for you. It seems that the Oceanside Station at Tremont Street is only at most about a 1/4 of a mile walk to the main parade area near the Civic Center. This estimate is from looking up street names on Mapquest. If I am mistaken, could someone please correct me?

[pfflier]

Thank you very much. My wife and I will be there. We'll be the guys with the American Flags.

[Hyacinth Bucket]

We'll be the guys with the American Flags.

LOL. We'll be seeing you then!
Oh and my boyfriend and I will be wearing something red, white, and blue ;)

[Mrs.Liberty]

OOH RAH! I will try to make the drive up from Chula Vista on Saturday!

[BoneHead]

Excellent Ms. Buckett
Another bump for the week of the event.

For others coming south consider the Metrolink commuter train(I think they run on Saturdays...More frequently), Amtrak is more expensive(and less frequent).

Regards

[Hyacinth Bucket]

For others coming south consider the Metrolink commuter train(I think they run on Saturdays...More frequently), Amtrak is more expensive(and less frequent).

Excellent suggestion.

Thanks and my very best regards to you too, BoneHead!
(That just doesn't sound right ;) )

[VOA]

Wish I could make it down to the parade...and that I would qualify for this feature listed
in one of the press releases. I'd pay good money to be in a place with "Sgt. Hartman"
cutting loose with his own...


October 9, 2003

POPULAR ENTERTAINER, RON LEE ERMEY, TO HOST DEFENDERS OF FREEDOM DAY CELEBRATION

R. Lee Ermey, host of the History Channel’s popular Mail Call program, will be
entertaining the Marines and Sailors of the First Marine Expeditionary Force
(I-MEF) on Saturday, October 25, 2003 following the Defenders of Freedom Parade
at approximately 1:00 p.m. at the Oceanside amphitheater located on The Stand
at the base of the Oceanside pier.

Ermey, a former Drill Instructor at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego,
is best known for his numerous roles in feature films including Full Metal Jacket,
where he received a Golden Globe nomination, Swithcback, Dead Man Walking,
Leaving Las Vegas and Apocalypse Now, among others.

Ermey has achieved star-status with the men and women of the armed services and has
been a staunch supporter of the armed services.

Ermey spent a total of eleven years in the Marine Corps, two as a Drill Sergeant.
He served in the India Company 3rd Recruit Training Battalion in 1965-1967 and
arrived in Vietnam in 1968, spending 14 months attached to the Marine Wing Support Group
17 and served two tours in Okinawa.

The Defenders of Freedom Day Parade and Celebration will feature a tickertape parade
on Coast Highway beginning at Wisconsin Street and terminating a Civic Center Drive.
A static display of the latest military equipment will be held on the beach, close
to the historic Oceanside pier. The Celebration at the Oceanside amphitheater will
immediately follow the parade.

For more information, contact the Parks and recreation Department at 435-5041.

[Hyacinth Bucket]

Hi VOA.
Thought you might like to read this article about "Sgt. Hartman".
Regards, HB.

Actor, veteran maintains strong ties to Marine Corps

By Michael Burge
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

October 26, 2003

OCEANSIDE - R. Lee Ermey hasn't been in the Marines since 1972, when he was forced to retire after being wounded in Vietnam. But he is the living embodiment of the saying "Once a Marine, always a Marine."

When Ermey took the stage of the Oceanside Amphitheater as master of ceremonies for yesterday afternoon's entertainment portion of the Defenders of Freedom celebration, everyone in uniform cheered.

"I am Gunnery Sergeant Hartman, your senior drill instructor," he shouted. "From now on, you will speak only when spoken to, and the first and last words out of your filthy sewers will be 'Sir.' "

Everyone laughed.

Ermey was reproducing the character he played in the movie "Full Metal Jacket," a performance that earned him a Golden Globe nomination. He currently hosts "Mail Call," a popular program on the History Channel, and has appeared in such movies as "Dead Man Walking," "Saving Silverman" and the recent remake of "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre."

He considers recent visits with Marines in Iraq as important as the appearances he has made on the silver screen. "I feel as though I'm a spokesman for the Marines in Hollywood," Ermey said before the show. "I feel very responsible for the Marine Corps. I feel very attached."

The "Mail Call" program focuses on the military past, present and future and requires regular visits to Camp Pendleton, Ermey said. He said he has done about 10 shows at the school of infantry on the base. He said he doesn't see much difference between the Marines of his generation and this one.

"They're still ready to eat their guts out as much as the old Corps," Ermey said. On stage yesterday, he didn't hesitate to criticize some of his entertainment colleagues. He unabashedly called Hollywood, "Hollyweird," to the delight of the leathernecks.

But after naming some stars who opposed the war, Ermey said there are thousands of actors, directors and producers who feel otherwise. "All the ones I know support the troops," he said.

After Ermey introduced the musical portion of the show and left the stage, more than half the audience walked out in mute testimony to his popularity. He was swarmed by autograph seekers as he worked his way down The Strand to the Beach Community Center.

Lance Cpl. David Graf said the Marine-turned-movie star exemplifies the dedication a Marine should demonstrate after he leaves the military. "It's an inspiration for everybody," Graf said.

Retired Sgt. Maj. Bill Paxton, a longtime friend who served as a drill instructor in the 1960s with Ermey at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, said: "He hasn't changed. He's still down to earth. He'll always be a Marine."

Michael Burge: (760) 476-8230; michael.burge@uniontrib.com

[VOA]

"I am Gunnery Sergeant Hartman, your senior drill instructor," he shouted.
"From now on, you will speak only when spoken to, and the first and last words out
of your filthy sewers will be 'Sir.' "

"You had your last laugh when you laid eyes on me!"
Jack Webb as "The D.I."...
it's a good old film to show to kids not ready for "Full Metal Jacket".

I was truly bummed I couldn't get away to the event...especially when I managed
to catch the news on one of the San Diego TV stations and R. Lee was happily posing on
the sidewalk with adoring fans for memorable snapshots.

Thanks very much for the ping.

[Hyacinth Bucket]

I didn't see the show but will check out some of the movies you've mentioned. Thanks.

[VOA]

I didn't see the show but will check out some of the movies you've mentioned.

The old Jack Webb movie is under either the title "The D.I." or "The Drill Instructor"...
I can't remember which.

It's just that during the occassional "best war movie" thread here, I mentioned
that if I was in charge of the moral&patriotic instruction of a child,
I'd probably show them "The D.I.", "The Longest Day" when they were in the 8-14
year old range.
Then let them have the real meat of the subjects with "Full Metal Jacket",
"Saving Private Ryan" and "Schindler's List" when they could handle the graphic details.

Another old war classic, is titled "Up From The Beach", with Cliff Robertson and Red Buttons
about GIs charged with looking after civilians/prisoners during the D-Day invasion.
But, it was such a decent film...it's probably not on tape/DVD.

[John Jorsett]

Regarding war movies, what did you think of "The Big Red One"?

[Hyacinth Bucket]

Wow, thanks for the movie suggestions.

One movie I really like is the Hiding Place, the story of the Ten Boom Family. While it is not a story about the military and the war, it is a true story of a Christian (Dutch) family who helped many Jews escape from the Nazis by providing a hiding place for them in their home in Holland.

Also, I recently saw Black Hawk Down and liked it very much. I wanted to know what really happened during the Somalia operation and many people said that the movie was pretty accurate in telling the story.