Edwards honors vets in Antelope Valley Veterans' Parade

  • Published
  • By Stephen K. Robinson
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs Office
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Edwards' own Blue Eagle Color Guard and about 100 select Airmen from the 412th Test Wing and the 95th Air Base Wing marched in the 2nd Annual Antelope Valley Veterans' Parade in Quartz Hill Nov. 6.

The 95th Air Base Wing dressed in their Blues and 412th Test Wing composite dressed in their Airmen Battle-dress Uniforms.

Two F-16's, from the 416th Flight Test Squadron, stationed at Edwards, kicked-off the parade with a flyover shortly after 10 a.m. They were led by Maj. Michael "Havoc" Nielsen, an experimental test pilot assigned to the 416th FTS. Major Nielsen's wingman was Lt. Col. Donald "Whiz" Sheesley, also from the 416th Global Powerfighters Combined Test Force. Both have aerial combat experience.

With the parade theme of "Celebrating Women of the Air!" the Grand Marshals for this year's parade were Antelope Valley's own Ms. Flora Belle Smith, Ms. Irma "Babe" Story and Ms. Marguerite "Ty" Killen, three Women Air Service Pilots who ferried combat aircraft from place to place stateside for male counterparts to fly combat missions.

About 125 participating parade entries were staged at the intersection of 50th Street West and Avenue M-8. The parade proceeded north on 50th West to where it intersects with Avenue L-8, a one-mile stretch through downtown Quartz Hill.

"The Antelope Valley Veterans' Parade was initiated in 2006 with the AV Operation Welcome Home Parade that was created to give closure to many Vietnam veterans who came off active duty during a turbulent time in our nation's history. They were sacrificing men and women who were not given the welcome and appreciation they deserved, and a parade was the AV's way of rectifying that lapse, acknowledging their service and welcoming them home," said Mr. Mark Chapa, AV Veterans' Parade co-chairperson.

After a two-year hiatus, the veterans' parade was next held in 2009, and organizers hope to continue the event each year, Mr. Chapa said.