Williams Independence Day parade a smashing success

640-015-07-04-05WILLIAMS — If Facebook is any gauge, it appears that the historic Route 66 Williams Independence Day parade was a rousing success. Pictures and videos of the parade appeared from Richard Goettel of Phoenix and local resident Brenda Carter. Brenda even caught the Mayor directing traffic.

There was some concern that it might be a wash. Rain came down starting about two hours before the parade, but cleared up. While clouds darkened the city and threatened more rain, it never came.

The parade began with the members of the American Legion Cordova Post #13 carrying the colors. They were followed by the Vietnam Veterans of America. Smokey the Bear was the parade Grand Marshall.
640-015-07-04-07

640-15-07-04-73
The American Legion Post and Vietnam Veterans were joined by the Ladies Auxiliary of the American Legion and Matthew Broehm VFW Post.
640-15-07-04-87
A new addition is the War Memorial Museum of Arizona in their 1942 WWII half-track.640-15-07-04-16It would not be a Williams parade without the Bill Williams Mountain Men—official ambassadors of the State of Arizona, the tractors and the classic cars.
640-15-07-04-38
640-15-07-04-32
640-15-07-04-34It was good to see Bearizona in the parade this year. The were promoting their upcoming Backwoods BBQ July 25.

640-15-07-04-11Save Meant to Rescue had a tremendous float this year. They get our vote for Number 1. They were surrounded by pets rescued by new owners.

Overall the parade was the best we can remember.
Continue reading

How can you celebrate Honor America Days?

729px-1885_History_of_US_flags_medWe are in the time frame established by Congress in which they declare:

…that there be public gatherings and activities during that period at which the people of the United States can celebrate and honor their country in an appropriate way.

The City of Rome, New York takes Honor America Days to heart. Many are unaware of it because it does not specify picnics, barbeques or drinking green beer.

So what could one do to honor America during this time? There are several things and they do not take up too much of your time.

You can start by practicing using the term Independence Day instead of July 4th. July 4th is just a date on a calander. Independence is what it is all about. The Declaration of Independence is readily available online. Why not take time to read what the causes of Independence were? Read them with your family. Why not study the Bill of Rights? [Oddly enough the government archives web site gives a 400 error on these topics.]

One important fact of the Bill of Rights is often overlooked; perhaps purposely. The main effect of the anti-Federalist arguments was to get a Bill of Rights attached to the Constitution in the form of the First Ten Amendments. A Bill of Rights was not a popular idea among the Federalists. They argued that if a specific list of rights were added to the Constitution, the Congress would trample on other rights of American citizens. It was felt that the Constitution fully protected the rights of citizens from the evils expressed in the Declaration of Independence. People knew their rights. For example they knew that people had the right to private property which could never be taken away for any reason (except for public purposes such as roads as expressed in the Fifth Amendment). They knew that people had the right to do with their property what they wanted so long as it did not affect the property of their neighbors.

They did not bank on Woodrow Wilson.

James Madison was most adimant against a Bill of Rights. Yet in the first Congress under the new Constitution, he—among others—proposed 12 amendments. Ten were added forming the unalienable Bill of RIghts—meaning they could never be revoked. Because it was proposed as law, it came with a Preamble. That Premable read, in part:

Preamble

Congress OF THE United States
begun and held at the City of New York, on Wednesday
the Fourth of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine.

THE Conventions of a number of the States having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government, will best insure the beneficent ends of its institution

Incidentally, the Bill of Rights were not written in order of importance. The government of the United States—the people—cannot enforce a First Amendment without utilizing the true intent of the Second Amendment.

The government approved Federalist Papers were used convince the people to accept the newly written Constitution. These are the most cited in court cases and so-on. There were others who argued for the Constitution as well as those who argued against. Essays on the Constitution of the United States by Paul Leicester Ford represents several arguments from both sides. The Federalist Papers Project has some anti-Federalist arguments on their site. Infoplease has a more extensive listing on their web site.

If you prefer a more regimented course of action, Hillsdale College has free online courses that you can sign up for. They have courses on the Constitution, the Federalist Papers, American Literature and more. The courses feature a video lecture, required reading and examinations to test what you have learned.

Another source of information is Archive.org which has many old videos used in American schools through the sixties. They also have a number of audio books and audio read by volunteers you can download. Such as 1984 by George Orwell who became disillusioned by Communism. Project Gutenberg has hundreds of thousands of books online which you can download and print. These two sources have thousands of other entertainment selections, as well.

The one thing that is commonly misunderstood is that liberty and freedom does not mean the freedom to do whatever you want. The volume on your stereo stops where another has to listen, for example. One cannot dump toxic chemicals into a stream that runs through the property of another.

It is highly unlikely that you will get through all of the references we have presented here by Independence Day. The purpose of this article is simply to show that resources for self-education do exist. You do not have to have a time frame specified by Congress to use them.

Happy Honor America Days!

honor-americaHappy Flag day and Flag Week!

Title 36, United States Code, Section 112 (Public Law 105-225) declares this Honor America Days. The 21-days between Flag day and Independence Day are days in which:

Congress declares that there be public gatherings and activities during that period at which the people of the United States can celebrate and honor their country in an appropriate way.

President’s have simply mentioned in the Flag Day proclamations such as that by Barrack Obama on June 12.

Williams remembers those who passed

20150525aaWILLIAMS — After the graduations, the parade, the roping and all of the other Memorial weekend activities, Williams ended with a memorial service to honor those who went to serve our country and did not return.
20150525x
Veterans and the families of loved ones who have passed gathered in the Williams Cemetery to honor their memory. The solemn occasion was accompanied with a 21-gun salute and the playing of taps by Lu Carle. Volunteers assisted in the placing of flags to mark the resting places of veterans. Some with only a small marker to indicate their presence.
20150525e
The event was scheduled by “Perico” Avila and the American Legion Cordova Post #13. Father Killian of St. Joseph The Worker Catholic Church gave the invocation.

Unfortunately, due to a scheduling conflict, we could not get the names of all of the participants.

Memorial parade over

American Legion Cordova Post #13 color guard leads the parade.

American Legion Cordova Post #13 color guard leads the parade.

WILLIAMS — The Williams Memorial Parade went off with only a few drops or rain felt. The parade was led by the color guard of the American Legion Cordova Post #13. Along with the emergency first responders of the Kaibab National Forest and Williams, businesses and organizations joined to create the parade lasting just shy of 30-minutes.

640-Memorial-05-23-33

Continue reading

Williams Memorial parade starts soon

640-memorial-15-05-23-01WILLIAMS — The American flag lines Route 66 from west-to-east along the Williams Memorial parade route. The Williams Police Department went all out to make sure people understand not to park in the parade route this year. KPBX 91.1 FM is blasting from the announcers stand. The 4-H club is setting up for their bake sale at Circle-K.
640-memorial-15-05-23-04
The parade is ready to begin in a little less than one-hour. The parade starts from the Banker’s Real Estate plaza in the area of the Williams Memorial Park on the west end. It will travel Historic Route 66 past 1st Street where it will end.

The Weekend: Brought to you by Williams, Arizona

williams-city-logoThursday

  • The eighth graders will be promoted to High School tonight at p.m. Congratulations
  • The Cataract Creek gang is out and around. Gunfight at 7 p.m.
  • Bearizona open all weekend.
  • Marvelous Marv tours available all weekend.

Friday

  • High School graduation 7 p.m. Congratulations graduates.
  • The Route 66 Market opens for the season! The market will be open all summer. Tables $10 each or $25 for the weekend whether a three- or four-day weekend. The market is located on the west end of town across the street from the Williams Memorial Park, next to the Williams Justice Center. Open from morning until dusk.
  • Gunfight 7 p.m.
  • Star Gazing at the Glassburn park area across from Rod’s Steak House on Railroad Avenue 7:30 p.m.

Saturday

  • Annual Memorial Day parade begins at 11 a.m. in Williams. Please do not park on Route 66.
  • Jack Fuller Roping at the Rodeo Grounds.
  • Williams Aquatic Center opens. FREE SWIM. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Route 66 Market
  • Gunfight 7 p.m.

Sunday

  • Jack Fuller Roping at the Rodeo Grounds.
  • Williams Aquatic Center open. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Route 66 Street Market
  • Gunfight 7 p.m.

Monday

Happy Memorial Day.

  • Williams Aquatic Center open. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Route 66 Street Market
  • Gunfight 7 p.m.

More at Grand Canyon Chamber of Commerce