ADC float wows crowd

ADC float wows crowds at Veterans Day Parade

December 8, 2011

This years Phoenix VA Veterans Day Parade was on 11/11/11 and the Arizona Department of Corrections entry into this year’s parade was a huge hit with the 200,000 plus spectators in attendance.

The theme of the parade this year was “Veterans, Our Resilient Heroes” and the centerpiece of the ADC float was a scale model of an Apache Helicopter, complete with a pilot and gunner, flying over a war-torn building. A Marine sniper team and a communications officer complete the battle scene. On the sides of the float, two figures representing the men and women who serve our country hold the flags of the four armed services. The back of the float held an Arizona memorial with the depictions of two former Arizona Department of Corrections officers, CO II Darrell Kasson and CO II Charles Browning, who were killed in Iraq and Afghanistan while serving in the Arizona National Guard.

Riding on the float this year were ADC staff from around Arizona. Representing the US Army were CO II Hadar Espinoza and CO II Jesus L. Romero. Representing the US Navy were CO II Rodolfo Morales, CO III William Eastwood and CO II Saul Miller. Representing the USMC were CO II Jose Leon and Sgt. Michael Hays and representing the Arizona Army National Guard were CO II Jason Hasenau and CO II Medardo Montano. Accompanying the officers on the float was ADC Director Charles L. Ryan and the float was towed by the Honor Guard van, driven by Lt. Christopher Rowley and CO II Katrina Kitchner.

The materials used in the float were purchased with money that was generously donated by the Arizona State Credit Union. Construction student inmates at ASPC-Lewis/Barchey, led by Rio Salado WBE Instructor Eric Richardson, spent a month transforming styrofoam, lumber and paint into the awe inspiring Veterans Day Float.