47th AFAD celebration this Saturday in Mountain Home

The 47th Annual Air Force Appreciation Day kicks off this Saturday, Sept. 8, with the state's largest parade and a free barbecue, among numerous activities planned.

AFAD is a special tribute to the men and women of the armed forces, and in particular those assigned to Mountain Home Air Force Base, and is annually the largest event held in Elmore County.

The theme for this year's parade and celebration is "Sowing the Seeds of Peace."

The event, which draws more than 10,000 spectators each year, actually begins Friday night with the corn shucking at the cook shack in Carl Miller Park, and the invitation-only commander's social, which will feature the community's first appearance of the new 366th Fighter Wing Commander, Col. James S. Browne, who will take over the wing in a change of command ceremony earlier in the day.

Friday night also features the AFAD Fun Run, which begins at 6:30 p.m. at Carl Miller Park. Fun Run entry forms can be picked up at the Chamber of Commerce office.

The AFAD committee is a component of the Mountain Home Chamber of Commerce.

The main events begin Saturday morning when parade participants begin lining up at 9 a.m. in the streets behind Paul's Market.

The parade itself begins at 10:30 a.m. with a flyover by the Idaho National Guard's A-10s.

The parade will proceed down N. 2nd East Street to E. 4th North Street, turn right, go one block, then turn right again, coming down N. 3rd East Street to American Legion Boulevard where it will turn left and proceed up to Carl Miller Park. Entries being judged for the "People's Choice" award will turn left and go on display next to the park on N. 10th East Street, while the rest of the parade will proceed another block before breaking up.

Parade organizers and law enforcement officials are strongly urging people, especially children, not to run into the streets after the candy thrown from the floats. It's both dangerous and slows the two-hour parade.

The parade will be led by Grand Marshall Claire Wetherell and the new 366th Fighter Wing Commander, Col. Browne.

The parade will feature Miss Idaho, Sadie Quigley, Congressman Mike Crapo, all the city council and mayoral candidates, the 25th Army Band from the Idaho National Guard, the Sleekit Beasties Scottish bagpipe and drum band from Boise (Mayor Joe B. McNeal will appear with them in kilts), both the high school and junior high/middle school bands will perform, and a large number of businesses and squadrons from base will have floats.

A number of military vehicles also will appear, including, an Abrams M-1A1 tank and Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle.

Parade categories include large and small commercial, youth, military, religious groups, service clubs, classic vehicles and open division. Each category will have first-, second- and third-place winners.

A "Best Overall Award for Best Representation of Theme" is the top parade entry award. The "Peoples Choice for Best Float" awards, first, second and third places, are voted on by the public for those floats that are on static display at the park.

Raffle tickets are now on sale for drawings held during the afternoon of the event. Raffle tickets are $1 each or six for $5.

This year the prizes include two $500 cash prizes, an Arctic Cat 4-wheel ATV donated by Terry's Truck and RV, camping equipment, a DVD player, a natural gas barbecue, and an 18-volt cordless tool kit donated by Lowes.

Tickets are $1 each or six for $5 and may be obtained at the Chamber of Commerce office, city hall, the Mountain Home News, the Hair Hut, Idaho Independent Bank, La Mode Cleaners, Terry's Truck and RV, and Pioneer Federal Credit Union. Tickets also are sold in the park the day of the event. Winners need not be present.

Raffle and booster donations provide the basic funding for the day-long party.

Prior to the parade, a special invitation-only breakfast for AFAD boosters and dignitaries will be held at 9 a.m. at War Memorial Hall. In addition, the Mountain Home Museum will sponsor a fundraising event, cooking pancakes and eggs, for sale to parade participants.

Following the parade, events move into Carl Miller Park, where the Chamber's free barbecue, run by the AFAD committee, begins at noon.

Entertainment during the afternoon will feature the band "Third Take." The park will be filled with vendors of craft items, food booths, game booths and activities and information booths.

Activities usually wind down about 5 p.m. AFAD organizers also are asking that people attending the events in Carl Miller Park that day leave their dogs (or other pets -- including snakes) at home.