2021 Auburn Veterans Day Parade

The 2021 Auburn Veterans Day parade is on Saturday, November 6. The Seattle Base USSVI and Bremerton Base USSVI will be participating in this year's parade.

We will meet near the junction of Main and K Street NE in Auburn. Please arrive between 10:00 and 10:30. The parade will start at 11:00. We will have room on the float for sitting. Be sure to dress warm.

Photo from the 2019 parade

There is free parking in the Auburn transit center garage by the train depot (click on the image below for a larger view of the map). You can see more about other parade and Veterans Day events on the City of Auburn website.

There will not be any display stands and tents around this year, so them should be more parking available. Also there will be no bands. 

We hope to see you there!

2019 Auburn Veterans Day Parade Photos

It was a cloudy-drizzly day for the 54th annual Auburn Veterans Day Parade.

CPO Davis and WWII Vet Ralph carried the flags for the Submarine Veteran groups

Members from Seattle USSVI Base, Bremerton USSVI Base, and Silent Service Motorcycle Club all showed up. Before things got started, we got a few group photos.

Bremerton USSVI Base

Seattle USSVI Base and Silent Service Motorcycle Club

Turnout was a little lighter than normal, but it was a good time and great to see all the veterans out for the parade.Here are some more photos from the parade.

After our group photos, there were last-minute preparations for the parade and some time to chat.

Getting the banner ready

Sharing a few tales, while waiting for the parade to start

SSMC members chatting

Then we had a flyover by the King County Sheriff helicopters and it was time to start the parade.

Helicopters come in low with the low clouds

Ric and Larry on the Seattle Base float

The Bonefish float pulling out into the parade

Seattle float and SSMC pulling into the route

The parade crowd was enthusiastic as ever and everyone seemed to enjoy the parade.

Passing some of the other parade entrants

A photo from inside the parade

We had a good time with the parade and hope to see everyone again next year!

Seattle Base members, SSMC member, and float

Reminder - 2019 Auburn Veterans Day Parade

The Auburn Veterans Day parade is on Saturday, November 9. This year Seattle Base, Bremerton Base, and the Silent Service Motorcycle Club will be participating in the parade. We will meet near the junction of Main and K Street NE in Auburn. Set up starts between 9:00 - 9:30. Please arrive before 10:30. The parade will start at 11:00.

Photo from the 2018 parade

There is free parking in the Auburn transit center garage by the train depot.You can see more about other parade and Veterans Day events on the City of Auburn website.

Veterans Day Parade Map (click for a larger view)

We hope to see you there!

Reminder: Black Diamond Labor Day Parade

Monday, September 2 is the Black Diamond Labor Day Parade and celebration. The parade starts at 10 am and there will be booths, games, and live music all day at the school play field.

Seattle Base Float at a previous parade in Black Diamond

The Seattle Base float will be in the parade and we are looking for shipmates to join us for this event. Seattle Base has participated in this event for over 10 years. It is a fun small-town parade and the people are very welcoming.

SubVets, families, and friends can meet at the Black Diamond Museum (32627 Railroad Ave) between 8 am and 10 am for Black Diamond Bakery goodies and coffee. Use the museum door opposite the locomotive to enter.

We know it is a long way to drive, so we would like to help set up some carpools to assist folks in getting there. If you are willing to drive one or more people to the event, please contact Base Commander Ric.

We hope to see you there!

2019 Kirkland Independence Day Photos

We had good time at the 2019 Kirkland Independence Day Parade. The weather started off cool and cloudy, but the sun came out just in time for the start of the parade. As usual, the city of Kirkland did a nice job with the parade and all the festivities for celebrating Independence Day.

Seattle Base USSVI and SSMC submarine veterans

In addition to Seattle Base members, we had members of the Silent Service Motorcycle Club (SSMC), VFW Post 2995, and Lake Washington Technical School veterans. All the veterans were presented with a rose to wear and submarine sandwiches were served before the parade.

When we arrived, we were greeted by a banner for parade Grand Marshal, World War II veteran, and Seattle Base member Ralph.

Introduction banner for Ralph

Here are some photos from before the parade.

We got a quick photo with Bob, a USO volunteer, Ralph, Anne, and Dave

Then it was lunchtime

And everyone took a little time to eat and relax before the parade

Then it was time for the annual all veterans photo

The parade started off with a bagpiper and the VFW Honor Guard, followed by the VFW Troop Support group. Then our Grand Marshall Ralph and his family, followed the Seattle Base USSVI with our submarine float and Silent Service Motorcycle Club - Thresher Chapter. The parade route was lined with a large and enthusiastic crowd.

Here are some photos from the parade.

The piper and Honor Guard

Grand Marshal Ralph and family

Seattle Base USSVI marching behind

Seattle Base float

Bob leads the SSMC

Other SSMC members

Kerry hands out buttons

Waiting on the national anthem near the review stand

Waving to the crowd

We had a good time at the parade. We're looking forward to the rest of our summer events. We hope you will join us.

Float Update and Parade Reminder

On Saturday, June 22, a work party of Kerry Ryan, Deb and Mike Drake, and Ric Hedman met at Al Smiths house to clean up the Seattle Base float.

Seattle Base float ready for another parade season

It was perfect weather for painting. First the float had its first bath in years. The whole hull of the submarine was washed, roughed up with sandpaper, and then washed again. The sail was painted first using a brush and all the edges were painted likewise before rollers were used for painting the main body of the sub. The same technique was used for painting the bottom.

Al fixed lunch for the group, (tuna sandwiches, Yum!) and then it was back to work.

They painted about 80% of the float. All that was left to do is the gray decking, which Ric will paint once his back recovers.

Parade Reminder

Seattle Base and the Silent Service Motorcycle Club will be participating in the Kirkland parade on Thursday, July 4. Seattle Base member and World War II veteran Ralph Sterley will be the Grand Marshal for this year’s parade.

To get to the assembly area from I-405, you take Exit 18 off of 405, head west toward Kirkland. This road turns into Central Way. Follow Central until you reach Market and turn right to find parking at Heritage Park. You’ll pass Heritage Hall while looking for parking. Parking is available north of Heritage Hall in the boat ramp parking area and at Waverly Park.

You can start arriving around 9:00 AM. The city will start closing down streets near the parade route around 9:30. If you are arriving after that time it is best to plan to get to the parking areas from the north heading south down Market Street.

We will meet near Heritage Hall, the large white two-story building on the north side of the corner of Central Way and Market Street. The Seattle Base float will be in place in the assembly area around 9:30 and all submarine veterans and motorcycles can meet near the float. We will be near the start of the parade.

Refreshments will be served around 11:00 and we will gather for a veterans group photo shortly after that. The main parade starts at noon.

We hope to see you there!

June 2019 Meeting Notes

We started off the June meeting with Tolling the Boats lost in June, followed by birthday wishes for our members, introductions, and then the officer reports.

2019 Holland Club Induction
This year we inducted Rich L. into the Holland Club. Rich qualifies on USS Alexander Hamilton (SSBN-617). Congratulations Rich.

Base Commander Ric presenting Rich his Holland Club certificate

Old and New Business

Base Float Refit - We planned a working party for Saturday June 22 to get the base float into shape for upcoming events and parades. We’ll get a report on how it turned out shortly.

Independence Day Parade – Seattle Base will be participating in the Kirkland parade on the 4th of July. Seattle Base member and World War II veteran Ralph Sterley will be the Grand Marshal for this year's parade.

Plans for the 2019 parade are like previous years. We will meet near Kirkland’s Heritage Hall in the morning. The Kirkland Police will block the roads near the parade route at 9:30, so you will need to be there early or come in from the north. Parking is available to our group exclusively, to the north of Heritage Hall and along Waverly Park. Lunch will be served around 11:00, the we'll take a few photos, and the parade will start at Noon. Remember to check the blog and newsletter for more details. We hope to see you there.

Here is a map of the parade staging area, parking and the parade route.

Kirkland Parade Information

Smokey Point – Seattle Base members will be manning the coffee booth at the south-bound Smokey Point rest stop on July 12 – 15. There are still a few more spots to fill and we can always use donations of cookies for the event. Please contact Steve or one of the other Seattle Base officers if you can help with this important fund-raising event.

VFW BBQ and Open House – VFW Post 2995 has invited us to attend their upcoming Open House and BBQ on August 17.

Seattle Base Summer Picnic - We are looking into having a Base Picnic later this summer. Let us know if you are interested in this too. 

Good of the Order
- Sr. Vice Commander Larry let us know that he and several other base members will be helping out with the Eagle Scout Court of Honor on June 30. If you would like to help out or attend, please contact Larry for more information.

- Seattle Base received 3 submarine pictures to use to raise funds for the Base. We are asking members for a donation of $40 - $60 for each picture. Photos and descriptions of the pictures are included below. If you are interested in one or more of the pictures, speak with Base Commander Ric.

Aerial photo of a Sturgeon (637) class fast attack submarine ($60)

A signed and numbered print drawing of USS Skate at the North Pole ($60)

Cutaway line drawing of USS Torsk ($40)

Upcoming Event Reminders

Here are reminders of some upcoming events for early July.

Kirkland Independence Day Parade

Ready to go at last year's Kirkland Parade

Seattle Base will be participating in the Kirkland parade on the 4th of July. Seattle Base member and World War II veteran Ralph Sterley will be the Grand Marshall for this year's parade.

Plans for the 2019 parade are similar to previous years. We will meet near Kirkland’s Heritage Hall in the morning. The Kirkland Police will block the roads near the parade route at 9:30, so you will need to be there early or come in from the north. Parking is available to our group exclusively, to the north of Heritage Hall and along Waverly Park. Lunch will be served around 11:00, the we'll take a few photos, and the parade will start at Noon. We will talk about the parade at the June meeting, but also remember to check the blog and newsletter for more details. We hope to see you there.

Smokey Point Event
Seattle Base members will be manning the coffee booth at the south-bound Smokey Point rest stop on July 12 – 15. Steve will have the sign-up sheet at the June meeting. Be sure to mark your calendar and sign-up to help out with this important fund-raising event. Be sure to bring any questions to the June meeting.

Western Region District Commander Elections
It is election time for Western Region District Commanders. Seattle Base is part of Western District 4 and our current District Commander, Jim DeMott, is running for re-election.

WD4 Commander Jim DeMott at a recent Seattle Base meeting

Voting is open from June 15, 2019 until close of business on July 15, 2019. Emailed ballots must be received by close of business on July 15th and mailed ballots must be postmarked no later than July 15th to be counted.

You can download a PDF or Word version of the ballot. The ballot has instructions for returning it by email or regular mail.

You can read the District Commander duties and requirements for office in this Word document. 

2018 Auburn Veterans Day Parade Award and reminders

We learned that the USSVI group won the Auburn Veterans Day - Harold Page Memorial Award for the best veteran service organization entry.

Thanks to everyone that showed up at the parade.

Award plaque

Here are a few calendar reminders for you:

• There is no November meeting this month due to Thanksgiving.
• Our next scheduled event is the Seattle Base Holiday Luncheon on December 8, 11 am to 2 pm, at the Nile Shrine Center (6601 244th St. SW Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043-2750). The cost this year is $25 per person for a lunch buffet. We have limited seating this year, so be sure to get your reservations in as soon as possible. Registration forms can be found in the current issue of the Dolphin Brotherhood newsletter and at this link.
• The January meeting will be on January 16, 2019. VFW Post 2995 has remodeled the meeting room under the post bar and our meetings will shift to this meeting room.

2018 Auburn Veterans Day Parade Photos

It was a partly-cloudy and chilly Saturday for the 53rd annual Auburn Veterans Day Parade.

A banner from the Auburn Parade route

Our USSVI turnout was a little lighter than normal - with members from Seattle Base, Bremerton Base, and Silent Service Motorcycle Club showing up. We were also joined by an Honor Guard from Naval Base Kitsap. However, the parade crowd was enthusiastic as ever and everyone seemed to enjoy the parade.

Even with the lighter turnout, it was a good time and great to see all the veterans out for the parade.

Here are some photos from the event.

Bonefish float and Bremerton members at the staging area

We had some time for pre-parade sea stories

Just before the parade started we got a few group photos

Bremerton Base and Honor Guard

Seattle Base members

Silent Service Motorcycle Club (SSMC) - Thresher Chapter

After that, we had some last minute preparations for the parade.

Getting banners ready and chairs on the floats

Getting people on the floats

With the flyover, it was time to start the parade.

King County Sheriff helicopter flies over the parade

The Honor Guard led the way, followed by Bremerton Base

Seattle Base was next, followed by the SSMC

In-parade group photo

A couple views of the Veterans Day Banner over the parade route.

You can see all the people lining the street

One last in-parade photo

We had a good time with the parade and hope to see everyone again next year!