The Cavalry is Coming! - Nov. 7th [Archive] - The Highland Lakes of Texas

View Full Version : The Cavalry is Coming! - Nov. 7th

tonigking

09-27-2009, 10:39 AM

What a glorious thing in the "olden days" watching the westerns at the Sat. matinee.
You first heard the trumpets sound and then it was so exciting to see The Cavalry racing on beautiful horses, coming to save the day... and everyone in the theater would shout and applaud... my, my how wonderfully nostalgic it is.

The 1st Cavalry Horse Detachment , is coming back!
They are the only mounted Cavalry left in the United States; and I still think they are glorious. They also bring a covered wagon drawn by the prettiest mules you ever saw.
Girls, their official slogan is "Hot to Trot" and are they ever a bunch of hotties.
Where you say?

Well, the 4th ANNUAL VETERANS PARADE AND CELEBRATION in Granite Shoals,Texas, NOV. 7th, of course.

www.graniteshoals.org (http://www.graniteshoals.org)
Who else exciting is coming? stay tuned...:secret:

tonigking

09-30-2009, 02:28 PM

...VIET NAM VETERANS
MAY YOU NEVER WALK ALONE AGAIN...

Meet our Grand Marshall for the Parade and shake Gunny's hand at the Celebration at the Park.

DENNIS " GUNNY" MARTIN
UNITED STATES MARINE CORP, RET.

A combat veteran, having served in the Republic of Viet Nam (RVN) in 1968 and Cambodia in 1975. Retired as an E-9 Master Gunnery Sergeant ,but prefers to be called "Gunny" , usually attributed to an E-7.

Some of his service awards include;
The Bronze Star
Three Purple Hearts
The Cross of Gallantry (RVN)
Several Presidential and Meritorious Unit Citations
The Combat Action Medal
The Good Conduct Medal
The Fleet Marine Service Award, to name a few...

KINGCHIP

09-30-2009, 02:51 PM

Sounds pretty neat, Toni. If I'm not out of town, I'll have to come over.

You forgot Parson's Mounted Cavalry, the true Aggie Corp Cavalry.

tonigking

09-30-2009, 05:32 PM

Bring em on Chipper! I'll do most anything for our Veterans, including an Aggie Cavalry! :rockon:

tonigking

10-01-2009, 02:08 PM

HAVE YOU THANKED A SOLDIER OR A VETERAN TODAY?

I'll bet you didn't know we have an Advisory Board for the Annual Veterans Parade and Celebration.

They are;
Chuck Caraway, Veteran Services Officer for Burnet County (USMC)
Harvey Klee, Chaplain for The Highland Lakes Honor Guard (NAVY)
Keith Powell, Principal, HLES
Barbara Ramirez, Ret'd , (USAF)
Merilyn Nations, City Council Liason
Toni G. King, Chairman

We meet on the first Thursday of the month @ 6:00pm @ The Community Center in Granite Shoals.
The public is welcome to attend and add input as are any Volunteers that would like to help with this event.

Stay tuned for the next suprise guest !:secret:

tonigking

10-05-2009, 08:14 AM

"America...Land of the Free - Courtesy of the Brave "

For the third year, The Highland Lakes Honor Guard will lead our parade and do the honors at Veterans Park. A formal raising of the Flags.
This group of volunteer men and women, all Veterans themselves, led by Commander Charlie Taylor, provide memorial services to deceased Veterans all over the hill country.
They are the only official Military Honor Guard designated by the Department of Defense in Washington, D.C. , in the Hill Country.
Harvey Klee, is an ordained Chaplain with the group and he will again present the invocation. Thank you HLHG !

Chuck Caraway , the Burnet County Veteran's Service Officer, has arranged to have
some "brass" from the Veterans Administration on hand, at the Park, with printed materials and advice for all Veterans. Chuck stated that many Veterans were not aware of some of the positive changes in benefits available to them.

This will be a great opportunity to hook-up with the VA and find out what you or a loved one may be eligible for.

Stay tuned, more to come...:secret:

Belle

10-11-2009, 10:50 AM

Toni, I have heard about a wall of honor what is that ?

tonigking

10-12-2009, 07:38 AM

Thanks for asking Belle.

The Wall of Honor is a 24ft wall at the pavillion at Veterans Memorial Park. We have in the past decorated and posted 8X10 laminated photos ,mostly from WWII, downloaded from the internet.
We decided this year to post all military pictures sent in by people with Veterans that are living, deceased or otherwise can't attend the Celebration.

We will post any and all copied & laminated photos, no larger than 8x10. They do not have to be just individuals in uniform, but groups, planes, ships and boats, posters, etc.

It is important to note we cannot return them and they will become a permanent part of a growing collection of memorabilia that we will preserve for future use.

We have old medals, old flags, old pictures, an old uniform and so on. We will take it. Please bag and tag!

So copy, put name, branch of service, years of service (1950-1955) on the back, laminate and send or drop off :

Wall of Honor
City Hall
410 N. Phillips Ranch Rd
Granite Shoals,Tx 78654

tonigking

10-12-2009, 07:45 PM

I am so pleased to announce our Keynote Speaker will be "just call me Joe".

A soldier's soldier, now a veteran's veteran...

Please go on-line and type in William J. Gainey

Let's give him a big welcome!

tonigking

10-14-2009, 06:45 AM

Did you look up Joe ?

"Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of readiness to die... " G.K. Chesterton

KINGCHIP

10-14-2009, 08:35 AM

That's a pretty impressive resume that he carries. Great find!!!

tonigking

10-17-2009, 08:58 AM

"A people that values it's privileges above it's principles soon loses both.." D.D.Eisenhower

:secret:Stay tuned.

tonigking

10-19-2009, 11:58 AM

Please note that my opinions, comments and/or affiliations made on other threads of this Forum do not in anyway represent those of anyone or any entity, including The City of Granite Shoals, other than my own.
I deeply apologize to The City, it's Representatives, Employees and Residents, if I have inadvertently caused any consternation in that regard.
Most sincerely, Toni G. King

KINGCHIP

10-19-2009, 01:32 PM

JSKR

10-19-2009, 02:44 PM

Neither have I Toni! :dunno:

nosefornews

10-19-2009, 03:18 PM

I'm with Chip and JSKR, I don't remember seeing anything derogatory towards GS or others from you...

Webmaster

10-19-2009, 04:24 PM

tonigking

10-19-2009, 04:52 PM

Thanks folks!

There is an old saying that goes something like "if you have dug yourself into a deep hole stop digging" Here's my last shovel full.

The whole thing is clearly my fault and again I apologize. It is not anything I said but rather...

In my efforts to promote our event, I included www.graniteshoals.org (http://www.graniteshoals.org) in my signature tag. That's where all the event info is readily available. Not a problem.

Problem arose when I forgot to remove the link and posted on "politically charged commentary threads implying that the city somehow endorses your comments"

People complained. That's a problem! I have removed the link from all posts.

End of story.

nosefornews

10-19-2009, 05:08 PM

oh for Pete's sake :rolleyes: somebody needs to get a grip, unless of course there really is a conspiracy to bring shame and ridicule down upon that bastion of free speech and tolerance that is GS:secret:

tonigking

10-20-2009, 08:01 AM

Okay folks, the deadline for getting your Parade Application & Waiver is up, so we will extend it for a few more days.

Download on www.graniteshoals.org (http://www.graniteshoals.org) and fax to 830-598-6538 or drop off at City Hall in Granite Shoals.

Help us avoid a logistics problem by giving us time to prepare for Busses, Tractor Trailers, Horse Trailers and other vehicles that will need to be parked before the Parade.

Thanks ! It's going to be a great parade !

Call me if you have questions - 830-598-6971

PS: didjano Jay and Ben of the Morning Show , 92.5, will be doing a remote at the Park from 9:00 AM to Noon?

tonigking

10-22-2009, 09:02 AM

WOOHOO ! I am so proud! The Texas Dept. of Agriculture thinks enough of our event , and I am sure the subject of our event, to award us a Bootstraps Bucks Grant !
Thanks TDA!:D

GO TEXAN

www.graniteshoals.org (http://www.graniteshoals.org)

PS; We will be in Cherokee on the 24th at "Super Saturday" promoting and selling t-shirts.

tonigking

10-23-2009, 07:34 AM

Want to see pictures of last year's Parade and Celebration ?

There are a ton of them on City of Granite Shoals , Texas Facebook page:bravo:

KINGCHIP

10-23-2009, 08:00 AM

tonigking

10-26-2009, 08:50 AM

Wow !
Have you ever met a 2000 lb, 18 hands high, gentle giant, up close and personal ?
He's capable of moving a 5 ton load among other things.
I wonder what his name is ?
He'll be in the Parade with his very fancy carriage full of Patriots.:D

countryboy

10-26-2009, 03:39 PM

KINGCHIP

10-26-2009, 03:47 PM

That was my guess. Were you refering to a Clydesdale?

Belle

10-28-2009, 01:09 PM

It it too late to register for the parade?

tonigking

10-28-2009, 04:13 PM

Not if you can get it to City Hall by 4:00pm Friday.
Applications and waivers are at www.graniteshoals.org (http://www.graniteshoals.org) and fax # is 830-598-6538

tonigking

10-29-2009, 05:30 PM

I thought at my tender age of 70+, I had seen it all ! Guess not.

The Sunrise Beach Lawnchair Brigade will march, with chairs, in the Parade. Can't wait to see that.:)

Last year plungers, this year lawn chairs; what next?:secret: Stay tuned.

KINGCHIP

10-29-2009, 05:45 PM

Those are always fun to watch, no matter what they use for a ........PROP?

tonigking

11-01-2009, 02:01 PM

WOW! Just six days away and it looks like a great day for a Parade and Celebration in the Park to honor our Veterans.

Folks please don't confuse the day of our event; Sat. Nov. 7th, with Veterans Day on Wed. Nov. 11th.

Many communities will recognize Veterans on the 11th month, the 11th day and the 11th hour in the traditional way.
For that reason we choose to celebrate on Sat. the 7th.:D

tonigking

11-03-2009, 12:27 PM

Wow, what an event, the Parade will be awesome. We have people coming from far and wide.
Where else could you find two great events that cost nothing to get in.

We do hope you will enjoy the BBQ and purchase a t-shirt after the parade to help us defer some expenses.

We will be at the Veterans Park at 7:00 am setting up for the Speaker William J. Gainey, unloading the 1st Cav. Horses and two groups of dancing girls will be warming up.!

If you want to come by the park and get your "Honor Veterans- They honored U.S." t-shirts you can wear them in for the parade.

What a beautiful day to be an American -

tonigking

11-05-2009, 06:19 AM

We are happy to reveal that one of Granite Shoals most famous residents, Leo Manzano, U.S. Olympic Team member , is coming home to participate in honoring Our Veterans. Watch for him in the Parade and meet him at the Park.

We will truly have a grand parade and celebration in the Park It is such a thrill to know so many people are coming out to say, THANKS VETERANS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!
See ya in Granite Shoals. :D

nosefornews

11-05-2009, 06:53 AM

Toni,
I know you've posted the web site a couple of times, but for those from out of town, could you post directions to Veterans Park here? This thread has been viewed close to 750 times and there seems to be a lot of interest.

Thanks

tonigking

11-05-2009, 08:08 PM

Hey nose, I thought the world knew how to get to Granite Shoals. LOL;)

The whole event takes place on Phillips Ranch Road which is the second traffic light on 1431, coming from Marble Falls. Turn left
From Kingsland it is the first traffic light, turn right.
Stay on PRR all the way to the Water Tower and a 4 way stop. The Parade starts there. Jog on around the tower and you're still on Phillips Ranch Road headed south and there are many side streets to turn down to park and watch the parade. It will proceed down PRR to Veterans Park which is also on PRR.
I suggest you get close to the park, watch the parade and walk on over. Traffic gets a little crazy right after the parade. No Parking on PRR Please.
Hope to see you there, I'll be the crazy woman in a pink ballcap. I'd like to meet you if you dare!:secret::D

tonigking

11-06-2009, 07:44 AM

Folks I have not heard from the 1st Cav. and I will not call them

It must be remembered that these boys and girls are on active military duty and are rotated as any other soldier.

They provide their own horses and tack. They compete for the Horse Detachment as members are deployed.

Be sure and thank them for their service to this country.

We have arranged, thanks to the Highland Lakes Honor Guard and MFHS Band, to have a beautiful half staff flag service at the park tomorrow before the celebration begins.
Please be there.

tonigking

11-06-2009, 09:03 AM

I just got word from Ft Hood that the CAVALRY IS COMING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:D

NEED I SAY MORE - YEEEEEEHAAAAAAH.

tonigking

11-06-2009, 09:24 AM

P.S. I informed Sgt. Lavonne Chapman of this forum and of last year's photos on Granite Shoals,Texas Facebook page. So they will be looking.

Editor

11-06-2009, 07:56 PM

For those taking pictures, you can start a photo album on this site with all the great parade pics!

tonigking

11-08-2009, 08:35 AM

Yesterday was a beautiful and God given day.

The parade was awsome, the program both sad and joyful but beautifully presented.

The winners of the "most patriotic " entries are as follows.

1st Place to the 1st Cav. Horse Detachment, who came in spite of the tragedy at Ft Hood, their home base.

2nd Place to American Bank - whose float was nothing short of incredible.

3rd Place to the Veterans Float, provided by the GS Neighborhood Assn.

My heartfelt thanks to all who participated and turned out for this event.

I am so thankful and proud to be an American.

LET FREEDOM RING .

Shire_Driver

11-09-2009, 01:21 PM

Hello All!!

I just wanted to say a few things just in case anyone “witnessed” what happened to us during the parade.
First off, everyone is just fine--even my “pony”. :)
My horses name is “Church”, who is a very big, very easy going fella who will do just about anything I ask him to.
If anyone saw Church before the parade, he was pulling our carriage nice and quiet and being a good boy. He would walk and stop as the parade would mosey along and seemed very content as he always is.
We had already driven about a mile or 2 mile to get to the starting point of the parade…during that time, we had numerous dogs run up to Church barking and yapping, from little Yorkies to intimidating Pit Bulls. Church never missed a beat and just kept on walking. He was never frightened by the dogs and he never offered to kick at them either.
We also had 3 or 4 deer run from one side of the street to the other directly in front of us and all he did was perk up his ears and kept on walking…never spooked, never stopped, he just kept on doing his job.
The best that we can figure that happened (because we don’t truly know for sure) is that he must have heard a rattlesnake.
We were right next to some big slabs of granite to our right (and it is totally possible that a snake came out to sun and then maybe coiled up because it was startled by the band or something really loud going by??) There was a black spot on the road, fairly big and it sorta looked like a big patch of tar or something, which he had already walked past and it didn’t bother him, but he must have heard a snake or something to his right, because he looked sharply to his right and he stepped to his left and then kicked out with his right. Church then turned sharply to the left (away from this side that was scaring him, which a horse will take flight 1st and if they can’t get away could fight---it is just a natural instinct)
I pretty much had him stopped once he got off of the road and then the carriage bumped him and I think that he thought whatever it was, was still after him and it was really getting him!!
He finally stopped after us jumping forward, then stopping and jumping forward again a few times. He was very scared, because he was just trembling when I got on the ground and went to his head.
Poor fella, I felt so bad for him, because he knew something had happened and I’m sure he probably thought he had just been attacked.
He had one scrape on his back right leg which only took hair off and did not cut his flesh. He broke the shafts on my carriage, which are the two wooden poles that go on either side of the horse, and he broke a couple of pieces on my harness, which can all be easily replaced.
Like I said, my wonderful passengers, who are dear friends (and horse people too) are just fine and are looking forward to another carriage ride with me (maybe with a little less off-roading) and my husband, who was sitting next to me is just fine too. I’m fine other than a bruise on my left arm and a very, very sore body from stopping my big baby.
Church has been driven in downtown Austin seeing motorcycles, helicopters, cars, ambulances, fire trucks (with lights and sirens) cop cars, bicycles, skateboards, pedestrians, manhole covers, you name it he has seen it. I have used him in numerous weddings and special events, like the Marble Falls Rodeo Parade, the Marble Falls Christmas parade and on the weekends at the lights. It’s a mad house there with tons of traffic and people and he always takes it in stride, with never a problem. He lets people pose with him for pictures and lets them love on him after their carriage ride.
Therefore, I truly believe that something had to have scared him so bad, that a natural instinct kicked in and he acted on it. He is a living breathing creature and I can’t hold that against him.
Once everything is repaired, we will be back to driving and I am looking forward to it.:rockon:
Just a little side note… I have been driving these big guys for about 11 years now and this is my 1st accident. I thank our lucky stars that everyone was just fine.
Someone mentioned earlier about a Clydesdale….Church is a Shire, he stands at 18.1hh and weighs in at 1 ton….yes, that is 2,000 pounds!!! He has a very big heart and a very willing disposition. These big guys have a big willingness to work and enjoy their jobs. I have had questions before asking if they really like to work or not. Sure you have some lazy ones, but most of them I have met very much enjoy their jobs.
I apologize for this being so long. If you have any questions or curiosities about us or the “big boys”, and yes, we have more than just Church, please don’t hesitate to ask.

tonigking

11-09-2009, 03:48 PM

We were so sorry about Church and hoped that he was okay!

Those interested may now log on to The City of Granite Shoals, Texas, face book page and see lots of pictures.

Thanks everyone who made it such a success!!!

I'm gone!!

For a while anyway.:D:rockon:

JudgeGil

11-12-2009, 09:48 AM

Yesterday was a beautiful and God given day.
The parade was awsome, the program both sad and joyful but beautifully presented.

Glad to hear your report, Toni. Thanks to everyone and especially to you for keeping this tradition moving forward. I was sad to miss entering the parade but had previously committed to coordinating the amateur radio operators assisting the USA Track and Field Junior Olympics Cross Country meet that morning.

I've heard from several folks that it was a great parade and event. Keep it up! See you next time.

Judge Gil

tonigking

11-13-2009, 07:24 AM

Hey Judge Gil, I was about to send a truant officer after you! This is the first one you missed! but for such a very worthy cause, your forgiven.
Let me take this opportunity to again thank you and DAYBREAK ROTARY for sponsoring the 1st Cav. boys and girls. They ate goood!

I hope that you, "that drives the boat" had a great Veterans' Day and thank you for your service then and now :)!
Check out the photos, www.facebook.com/graniteshoals (http://www.facebook.com/graniteshoals)