Pat Thoresen
The theme of this year’s Fourth of July celebration was Hats Off To Our Heroes with special honorees being Quail Creek Vietnam veterans. Over 35 Vietnam veterans enjoyed a complementary coffee and pastry before the Opening Ceremony and marched out together to take part in the presentation of colors and flag raising ceremony performed by the Sahuarita High School Color Guard with sponsor Eddie Lopez from the Sahuarita Police Department. 2013 Grand Marshall, retired Army Colonel Peggy McGee, received a grand introduction by Gil Lusk, the 2012 Grand Marshall. Gil Lusk also presented Peggy McGee the Quail Creek Fourth of July Grand Marshall plaque with her name added.
The parade was led by Quail Creek Patrol, Grand Marshall Peggy McGee, Sahuarita Mayor Duane Blumberg and a Sahuarita Police SWAT vehicle. All Vietnam veteran honorees rode in 23 open convertibles driven by Quail Creek volunteer owners. Over 23 decorated parade entries made a huge parade this year. Others joined in at the rear of the parade which was followed up by a Green Valley Fire Department truck and Quail Creek Patrol.
Quail Creek Vietnam veterans who were honored at the Patriotic Opening Ceremony and who rode in the parade in open convertibles were the following:
Air Force: Herb Pahoresky, John Hockemeier, Marge Hockemeier, Dave Martinson, Bob Blocher, James Hart, Bob Atwater, Steve Able, Fred Waggoner, Kris Murphy, John Phair, Marilyn Mazeika, Tony Mazeika and John Epler.
Army: Rick Kevon, Robert Mahoney, David Ray, Gil Gil, Dave Schutt, Lee Cornelison, Hank Harrison, Peggy McGee and Eban O. Porch III.
Marine Corps: Mike Murphy, Rene Gill, Peter Lipe, Phil Perzan, John McGee and Bill Weyers.
Navy: David K. Toby
Quail Creek residents who drove their own open convertibles with the Vietnam veteran honorees as their honored passengers were Tim Mulcahy, Karen Hugus, Dick Kohlman, Ralph Scafuri, Marty Pierson, Ken Burns, Ray Robinson, Gary Collins, Terry Hasson, Bob and Sandy Blocher, Dave Sherman, Steve Stewart, Harold Baker, John Epler, Milton Cox, Fred Waggoner, Tadd Spicer, Rick Kevon, Beth Niccoli, Judy Weyers, Rene Gill and Gil Gill. The committee extends a grateful thank you to all of the volunteer convertible owners and drivers in this great parade. Many thanks also go to Marti Boyd who has recruited convertibles for the Fourth of July Parade for the past four years.
Other Vietnam veterans who were not in the parade due to working on the day’s events were Robert Thoresen, Fred Butler and Jack Mercer.
Parade entries were John and Betty Kozma, Wes and Lori Whitman, Quail Creek Critters Club with Dick Jones, Quail Creek Sales Office with Kimberly, Carese Kelly’s Ta Class, Ron and Bonnie Hyra, Eileen Sykora, Patriotic Pups with Art and Pam Liebowitz, Thomas Contreras, Carol Bisio, Jean and Jack Mercer, Rick and Vichy Woods, Alicia Toby, Janelle and Dan Ward, Freda and Richard Caldwell, Quail Creek Food & Beverage Committee with Don Brooks and Chef Aris Cabrera, Eric Caldwell, Ron Caldwell, Skip Pence and Ron Anderson, Jim Burkhart, Marilyn and Bob Darcangelo, Otto Schroeder, Patti Giannasi, Rene Gill and Lynda Huntington, followed by the Quail Creek Gun Club and some last minute entries.
Winners for this year’s parade were, first prize – and also Grand Marshall winners went to John and Betty Kozma with Wes and Lori Whitman. A $50.00 Sahuarita Ace Hardware gift certificate and a lifetime oil change certificate at Green Valley Jim Click Ford were donated by Terry McCardle of Quail Creek. Second place of a $40.00 Visa gift card went to Thomas Contreras; third place of a $30.00 Quail Creek gift card went to Vicki and Rick Woods; fourth place was a $20.00 Quail Creek gift card and went to Janelle and Dan Ward and Best Attired Fourth of July Canine Rider was a $30.00 gift card and doggie goodie bag from Central Pet in Amado and went to Patriotic Pups cart by Art and Pam Liebowitz.
Thanks to all who participated in the largest Fourth of July Parade! Let’s do this again next year. Please contact the Quail Creek Activities Committee in April of 2014 to help plan another great Quail Creek Fourth of July.