Academy puts on a show at parade

  • Published
  • By David Edwards
  • U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo --  Spectators at this year's Veterans Day parade in downtown Colorado Springs witnessed how the Air Force Academy rolls - down Tejon Street in a cadet chapel, of course.

The typical "parade right" and "parade left" commands were replaced by parade Tejon. And because top brass wanted the Academy to put on a better show at this parade, the task that fell to Senior Master Sgt. Megan St. Clair became even more daunting.

"Leadership wanted a bigger entry this year," Sergeant St. Clair said. "I was able to solicit key leads to manage coordinating each piece. The most difficult part was the float. With all the help, my biggest sole project was getting riders for the float."

Master Sgt. Ernie Medina designed and built the float last year. It is a parade-ready replica of the Academy's world-famous cadet chapel. Transporting a campus icon - even a much-scaled-down version - from the Academy down Interstate 25 and into downtown Colorado Springs can be a logistical nightmare.

But thanks to plenty of advanced planning and the right equipment to carry the load, Sergeant St. Clair could focus on the human element.

Leadership also got its wish. Representing the Academy at the parade were a phalanx of active-duty Airmen assigned to the Academy, a cadre of cadets, the cadet rifle team and the Academy band. Oh, and did we mention the float?

"If I had it to do over again, I would have done a better job at advertising around base," Sergeant St. Clair said. "The best comments I heard (were) at the parade itself. Many folks who marched were really proud to be there. I followed the float on the sidewalk as it went down the street and heard great comments from folks on how great we looked and how the float turned out."

The Veterans Day parade is a recent introduction to the Colorado Springs scene, but it has quickly gained traction in this military town's pantheon of parades. According to the event's website, Colorado Springs' Veterans Day celebration "has grown to be one of the biggest and best in the United States."

"We have rekindled a great tradition where veterans are enthusiastically cheered as they walk down Tejon Street," the website continues. "For that reason, and because we encourage participation by all veterans, ... (they) come from all of southern Colorado to participate in the parade."

Since the Air Force Academy doesn't have far to travel, it seemed reasonable to expect a strong showing from one of the country's premier military installations. Sergeant St. Clair and her team began their work in late August, and they delivered on the expectations.

She said things ran smoothly this year because everyone had plenty of time to prepare. Her time as the point person will be brief, though. She was the parade co-chair last year, and her turn to lead came around this year. In accordance with the rotation for the job, two understudies have volunteered to take charge for next year.

"I'll stay in the shadows and guide them though," Sergeant St. Clair said. "It is a very humbling experience to be part of such a great event, and it hits home when you feel the gratitude from the local community and retired veterans.

"I believe the young cadets who participated were surprised by the cheering they received. If we go big again next year, I believe we will be able to get volunteers more quickly."