[Alexandria Radio Club Reflector] ARC St. Partick's Day Parade Support After Action

[Don (KI4D)]

Many thanks to those who represented Alexandria Radio Club in the St.
Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday, it was a perfect parade weather day.
There are many moments to highlight, some are shown in the photos.  

 

First I would like to give lots of praise and thanks to Jack Parker and Rick
Bunn.  Jack towed our club trailer in the parade and Rick's help was very
critical in getting us past an "Uh-oh" moment at the beginnning. Rich Adamy
also came out to provide advice on the trailer hook-up.

 

At the Fire Training Center, things got off to rough start as we attempted
to hook up the club trailer to Jack's pick-up truck.  Jack's  truck hitch
had the right drop, but was a too long. It was so long that it did not allow
securing the trailer safety chains and connecting the wiring harness with
Jack's truck.  Eventually, the fix was to remove the hitch drop adapter to
shorten the distance between the trailer and Jack's truck.  This created a
concern about the front of the trailer being tilted upward with the trailer
tongue attached to the ball on Jack's truck. Finally, it was agreed that we
could live with the tilt because no one was riding in the trailer and the
parade trip was a short one.

 

We arrived a little early at our parade staging area on Alfred St. near
Princess St. so we had some extra time to watch other parade units arrive,
chat and take photos. While waiting we met the very friendly, charming, and
attractive "Miss Washington Rose," one of the winners in the annual
International Rose of Tralee competition, which is composed of contestants
of Irish ancestry. She took a photo with members of ARC, which was quite a
delight.  Also while waiting I was able to get a photo taken of me with Ms.
Renee Gordon, Director of Emergency Communications for the City of
Alexandria.  I learned she wants to become a ham so I mentioned to her that
we could help with that.  Photos are at
https://photos.app.goo.gl/RYwQYvqZ52cqzesa7.

 

We got many thumbs-up as we drove the parade route.  One of the biggest
moments for ARC was when our club trailer was approaching the review stand,
all of the city principals heard about the existence if our club and what we
do.  They heard " Alexandria Radio Club is the amateur radio club based in
Alexandria.  Established in 1954, the club stands ready to provide emergency
communications in case of emergencies or disasters in the Alexandria
community.  It provides a "radio home" for those licensed by the FCC as
amateur radio operators (hams) and for those aspiring to become licensed
operators.  For members, the club provides interesting programs, mentoring,
and training." I think something valuable for the club happened at that
moment, we educated city leaders about our mission.  

 

After the parade club participants met at Glory Day's to enjoy a late lunch.

 

Club participants supporting the St. Patrick's Day Parade were: Jack Parker
(W4JJ). Rick Bunn (N4ASX), Harry Jones (N4CWP), Rich Adamy (KA4GFY) Mark
Bonanno (KM4GML) and Don Lewis (KI4D).

 

73 Don, KI4D

 

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