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Photo: Tom Strattman |
It was 12-year-old Caitlin Keif’s first time ever marching in an American Legion National Convention parade. She doesn’t plan on it being her last.
Keif was one of dozens of American Legion Junior Auxiliary members marching in the 89th National Convention parade in Reno on Aug. 27. A member of the Junior Auxiliary since shortly after she was born, Keif enjoyed the experience.
“It was fun, but it was kind of embarrassing,” said Keif, a member of Unit 409 in Allen park, Mich. “It was just kind of different marching in front of all these people. But I’d definitely like to do it again. I like helping veterans, and it’s nice to hear their stories.”
Traveling down Virginia Street, with a backdrop of both old and new casinos, souvenir shops and motor lodges straight out of the 1950s, the national-champion Joliet, Ill., American Legion Band opened the parade with a stirring rendition of “The Stars and Stripes Forever.”
Temperatures had reached the mid-90s prior to the parade, but the shade provided by the historic and newer casinos along Virginia Avenue made conditions much better than expected. Heavy wind gusts in the final 20 minutes of the parade were Mother Nature’s only negative contribution to the event.
“We really got a good weather day, as far as temperatures go,” said Tom Buntin, a member of Post 1 in Reno and one of the marchers in the Department of Nevada delegations. “And Virginia Street is such a great venue for this parade.”
A procession of more than 50 American Legion Riders, revving their engines along the main strip, drew one of the loudest responses from the crowd. Jerick Johnson, the driver of Legion Racing’s No. 76 car, drew a similar response when hitting the gas pedal on his car in front of the reviewing stand.
In addition to delegates from every department, bands and color guards from Illinois, New Hampshire, Nevada, North Dakota, Vermont, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, New York and Missouri performed.
“It wasn’t as bad as I thought, but you still get a little pooped,” said Gene Borud, a tuba player in the Minnesota Ninth District Band and member of Post 21 in Moorhead, Minn. “It doesn’t help carrying (the tuba), but it’s still fun. We are a bunch of gray hairs, so we get tired a little easier.”
Brig. Gen. Bob Fitch served as grand marshal, while Capt. Michael H. Glaser was deputy grand marshal. Immediate Past National Commander Thomas L. Bock was honorary grand marshal.
“We love this,” Buntin said. “It’s a good chance to show people in Reno what a great organization The American Legion is.”
