[Hyacinth Bucket]

Defenders of Freedom Parade

"The City of Oceanside is pleased to announce that it will be hosting a Defenders of Freedom Tickertape Parade to welcome home the nation's Marines and Sailors from the First Expeditionary Marine Force. The Defenders of Freedom Parade will begin at 10:00 a.m. on October 25, 2003, on Coast Hwy. at Wisconsin Avenue and will terminate on Coast Hwy. and Surfrider Way. There will also be a static display of military equipment located on The Strand between Civic Center and Seagaze Drives."

When: Saturday, October 25, 2003, starts at 10:00am (NEXT WEEKEND!!)
Where: Oceanside, CA
The article was published last month, for the latest info,
please visit the city's website: http://www.ci.oceanside.ca.us/

[doug from upland]

Oh, man. I'm going to be in San Antonio. I would have loved to be there.

[Hyacinth Bucket]

Pinging all San Diegans and Southern Californians!

Hi! I just thought I should ping you all, in case some of you have not heard about this. Please tell all your friends and ping everybody. It should be an awesome family event that you won't want to miss. (I missed the big Pro-troops rally held in front of the Miramar Base last March and I only live about 10 minutes away. I don't know how I missed hearing about it. Could you tell that I'm still a little upset?) :) Well, I don't want that to happen to you.
Best Regards,
HB

[onyx]

Hadn't heard. THANK YOU for the ping.

[Euro-American Scum]

Bump for future reference.

[Hildy]

FYI

[Cousin Eddie]

We're going to be in Newport Beach with our 4 kids that weekend. Is it realistic to expect to find parking in Oceanside or will it be a total zoo? I checked the website but I'm a bit concerned that it may be a total mob-scene.

I'd love for them to see something like this (none of our kids were alive at the time of Desert Storm).

Thoughts? Suggestions?

[BJungNan]

bump for the troops!

[solitonic]

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

[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.