AFAD celebration kicks off Sept. 6

The 48th AFAD celebration will kick off Sept. 6 with the state's largest parade and a free barbecue, which annually feeds about 5,000 people, among many other activities that are planned.

The Mountain Home Chamber of Commerce's Air Force Appreciation Day is a tribute honoring the men and women of the armed forces, focusing primarily on those assigned to Mountain Home Air Force Base. It is annually the largest event held in Elmore County.

AFAD began in 1961 when the Mountain Home Chamber of Commerce held a sales promotion and dubbed it "Air Force Appreciation Day."

The chamber members wanted to encourage neighborly growth and express their gratitude for the economic benefits the Air Force brought to the community. In 1962, the chamber and base officials joined together in coordinating the first parade and free barbecue.

The theme for this year's parade and celebration is "Military Legacy--Proud To Be American." The theme was submitted by Thomas Cross of Boise, whose theme beat out, "Getting in Step with the Future," "Service thru the Ages," "Flying for Freedom," "Tie A Yellow Ribbon," and "Walk Hand in Hand with Freedom."

The theme will be used on tickets, posters and will be a key component in how the floats and entries are judged during the parade.

"I think this is the best parade in the state. It is important to support our veterans who are currently fighting and the veterans who have fought for our country," said Cross in accepting his prize, $50 in chamber bucks.

The event, which draws more than 10,000 spectators each year, will actually begin on Friday, Sept. 5, with the corn shucking at the cook shack in Carl Miller Park, and the invitation-only commander's social hosted by 366th Fighter Wing Commander Col. James S. Browne.

Browne described last year's event honoring the men and women who work for him as "amazing, just amazing."

The activities on Friday will also include a five-mile Fun Run/Walk, that will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Carl Miller Park. Entry forms for the Fun Run can be picked up at the Chamber of Commerce office.

All walk and run participants will receive a 2008 commemorative T-shirt. The top three racers in each of the seven age categories will win medals.

The main AFAD activities will begin on Saturday morning when parade participants will begin lining up at 9 a.m. in the streets behind Paul's Market.

The parade will begin at 10:30 a.m. with a flyover by the Idaho National Guard's A-10s.

The parade will proceed from Fire Station #1 down N. 2nd East Street to E. 5th North Street, turn right, go one block, then turn right again, coming down N. 3rd East Street to American Legion Boulevard where it will turn left and proceed up to Carl Miller Park.

Entries being judged for the "People's Choice" award will turn left and go on display next to the park on N. 10th East Street, while the rest of the parade will proceed another block before breaking up.

Parade organizers and law enforcement officials are strongly urging people, especially children, not to run into the streets after the candy thrown from the floats. It's both dangerous and slows the two-hour parade, they note.

The parade will be led by thebase and Legion honor guards, the 25th Army Band, group commanders, state and city officials, Col. Browne and the Grand Marshal, who will be announced at the Aug. 18 Chamber meeting.

The parade will feature both the high school and junior high/middle school bands. A large number of local businesses and squadrons from MHAFB also will have floats, joining the array of non-profit agencies, car and motorcycle groups and horse and animal groups taking part in the event.

The parade entries from MHAFB will include the 366th Logistics Readiness Squadron, 366th Civil Engineer Squadron, 390th Fighter Squadron, 366th Medical Group, 366th Communication Squadron, 366th Security Forces Squadron, Airmen Leadership School, Commissary and the Child Development Center, among others.

A number of military vehicles also will appear, including an Abrams M-1A1 tank and a Bradley Infantry fighting vehicle from the Idaho National Guard.

Parade categories include large and small commercial, youth, military, religious groups, service clubs, classic vehicles and open division. Each category will have first-, second- and third-place winners.

The top entry award for the parade this year is the "Best Overall Award for Best Representation of Theme."

The "People's Choice for Best Float" award will have a first-, second- and third-place winner, and be voted on by the public for these floats that are on static display at the park.

The Mountain Home football team took first place in last year's parade, followed by the 366th Medical Group float in second place and Wal-Mart float in third place.

The AFAD committee also will hold a raffle with prizes including a $1,000 donation from DeMeyer furniture, two $500 cash prizes, a gas barbecue donated by Intermountain Gas, a cordless tool kit donated by Lowes, camping equipment and other items.

Tickets for the raffle are $1 each or six for $5 and may be obtained at the Chamber of Commerce office, city hall, the Mountain Home News, the Hair Hut, Idaho Independent Bank, La Mode Cleaners, Terry's Truck and RV, and Pioneer Federal Credit Union.

Tickets also are sold in the park the day of the event and winners need not be present to win.

Raffle and booster donations provide the basic funding for the day-long party.

Following the parade events move into Carl Miller Park, where the Chamber's free barbecue, run by the AFAD committee, will offer barbecued beef sandwiches, corn-on-the-cob, chips and drinks. The barbecue is a popular event that combines 1,000 pounds of beef with more than 5,000 buns, 5,000 ears of corn and 100 pounds of butter to serve more than 5,200 meals.

The serving lines will open at noon, immediately following the parade and remain open until the food runs out.

Entertainment in the park during the afternoon will feature the band "Third Take." The Optimist cheerleaders will perform during band breaks. The park also will be filled with vendors and information booths.

Activities usually wind down about 5 p.m. AFAD organizers also are asking that people attending the events in Carl Miller Park that day leave their dogs (or other pets--including snakes) at home.

To be an AFAD booster, a contribution of $100 can be submitted to the Chamber office. If you would like to obtain more information about the parade or volunteer for the parade, the Fun Run, the barbecue or any part of either day, call Sue Gross at 587-2173.

For information on the booths and the Fun Run call Debbie Shoemaker at 587-4334.

"This is one of the largest parades in Idaho and were looking forward to this year's event being one of the biggest ever," said parade coordinator Sue Gross.

AFAD SCHEDULE

September 8

6 p.m.--Corn shucking at Carl Miller Park.

6:30 p.m.--Fun run starts at Carl Miller Park. ($15--early entry, $20--late entry)

September 9

10:30 a.m.--Fly-over by Idaho Air National Guard; Parade starts.

Noon­--Free barbecue for the public at Carl Miller Park.

12:30 p.m. to approximately 5 p.m.--Live entertainment, booths, food and prizes at Carl Miller Park.