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Event: American Legion National Convention Parade
Date: 26-Aug-01
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Description: This was a quick parade on a Sunday afternoon that was well attended by participants and our club.  The American Legion was holding their National Convention in San Antonio and we were invited to bring vehicles.

Many members from our club arrived at Ft. Sam Houston with their vehicles where we unloaded them and then were asked to stage the trailers in another lot.  The heat of the day was beginning to build so most were not happy campers about this.  We moved the trailers and returned to the staging area where we were given instructions on who to follow and who we would be carrying as distinguished guests.

From Ft. Sam Houston, we were part of a 90 vehicle M-998 (Hummer) group.  We left the post and got on Interstates 35 then 37 and weaseled our way downtown for another staging area.  Several of our San Antonio members were already there and had staked out the only shade tree in the parking lot.  We waited and waited then finally the parade was about to begin.

We all hopped in our vehicles and I had Angail, the Distinguished Navy Guest riding with me.  She was from NAS Jacksonville and was a Weather Specialist.  While on the parade route, she did make mention of the building Cumulus clouds and if the heat continued, there would be some serious rain coming.

The parade was short, winding it's way through a few streets of downtown San Antonio.  As we approached the Review Stand, they started talking about my guest.  At that point, I stopped and she got out.  A quick trip back to Ft. Sam was uneventful except for having to drive the Interstate again in a 50 year old vehicle.

We loaded up the jeeps and parted ways.  Three of us headed North to Austin stopping at Dorsett's 221 truck stop for dinner.  As we were leaving, the clouds were black and blue.  It was an ominous site that I had to enter.  About 10 minutes later, the heavens opened up and I could only manage 25mph on the road it was so difficult to see due to the rain.  And the lightening - what a show!

I got home and donned the rain jacket then unloaded the jeep to the garage.  The rain and lightening continued for about 90 minutes then moved on.  As it turns out, I received 4.625" of rain in that 90 minutes or so...  Needless to say, the jeep was still drying out for several days.

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01amleg1.JPG (24058 bytes) Here is Anjail, the distinguished Navy guest I carried in the parade.
01amleg2.JPG (24410 bytes) My jeep at the staging area.
01_legi1.JPG (20481 bytes) Club vehicles in the staging area...
01_legi2.JPG (25019 bytes) Another shot in the staging area...
01_legi3.JPG (21362 bytes) Nice recruiting tools (ok, at least the hummer is)
01_legi4.JPG (21307 bytes) ...and speaking of hummers!
01_legia.JPG (21674 bytes) Hurry up and wait...
01_legi6.JPG (28007 bytes) Downtown San Antonio on the parade route
01_legi7.JPG (19455 bytes) Downtown San Antonio

   

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