Photo By Spc. Nathan Goodall | A soldier with 17th Fires Brigade, in a moving high mobility artillery rocket system...... read more read more
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TUMWATER, Wash. – “Tumwater has an absolute hometown feel that represents everything that is great about this country,” said Col. Ken Kamper, the 17th Fires Brigade commander, after leading a parade with a group of his soldiers as the grand marshals of the Tumwater Fourth of July parade.
The Fourth of July is a day of heritage, not just for soldiers, but for anyone celebrating the nation’s independence. Kamper said it was a great day for the Thunderbolt soldiers of the 17th Fires Bde. to share with the community.
“It really gave people a chance to see their Army, face-to-face, and for our soldiers to be part of this community,” he said.
Military veterans marching in the parade occasionally fired off ceremonial rounds from a cannon towed by one of their trucks. Boy Scouts and others handed out American flags to the crowd who lined the streets.
Kamper, followed by his formation of brothers- and sisters-in-arms, along with a Humvee, a high mobility artillery rocket system (HIMARS) truck, and a light utility truck towing an M777 Howitzer 155mm cannon, led the parade through the town.
A woman walked up to the soldier driving the Humvee and handed him a small American flag through the window. Children, giddy at the sight of actual military vehicles, pointed and waved at the noncommissioned officer hanging out the top hatch of the HIMARS. The day was warm, both in weather and in spirits.
While the Thunderbolt Brigade and Tumwater are joined through the Army’s community connector program, the parade was an example of why the relationship between the community and the soldiers is made of gratitude, not obligation, said Kamper.
“Tumwater is an incredibly patriotic community,” he said. “We are very, very thankful to be affiliated with both Tumwater and [Olympia, Wash.] through the community connector program. We’re very greatful to Mayor Pete Kmet and the Tumwater city council for this opportunity, and for the continued support of our soldiers and our families,” he said.
After the parade, Kamper asked soldiers to share their thoughts of the experience.
“The Soldiers are phenomenal,” Kamper said. “They deeply appreciated the rich experience of participating in this Fourth of July event.”
It is appropriate that the marching soldiers were heard singing, loud and vibrant, during the parade. Military cadence was said to be around since the Revolutionary War, but was first officially documented in 1944 as a soldier’s way of helping tired formations feel proud and strong. Cadence is rich in heritage, and gave Kamper and his formation a way to sound off as part of the Army tradition and the community during Independence Day.
| Date Taken: | 07.04.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 07.08.2013 19:19 |
| Story ID: | 109862 |
| Location: | TUMWATER, WASHINGTON, US |
| Web Views: | 279 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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