Argghhh! The Home Of Two Of Jonah's Military Guys.. - This is my day for offering a platform

A missive from Jacki - who has been a long-time and substantial supporter of Project Valour-IT:

John,

I wrote to you last year about driving in a Veterans Day parade. I had to beg for you to blog like this, but I know the Veterans of Mesa, and they deserve a million times better than this.

Mesa voters voted down a property tax or and cuts have been happening. The parade went off last year without city funding, and hopefully will again this year, but I'm begging for your help.

Mostly I'm bugging you because of one stupid comment on the article. It drove me to grovel. I hate grovelling.

I know you have a lot going on with the new castle and all. If you have too much going on, please let me know. I'll understand and beg elsewhere. I came to you first because of the Clue Bat. And because you wrote back.

Here comes the flagrant sucking-up: you have a loyal readership that can make some of the connections and bring in some of the support that the Mesa Veterans Parade Association can only benefit from. Other people might follow your lead and blog more, or donate, or volunteer.

I've already been recruited for parade duty. I'm all in. If you want me to write something about last year's parade, I'll do it. If you want me to do legwork in Mesa, I'll do my best. If you want me to buy you drinks at the Milblog Conf. next spring, I'll line them up. Say it.

Again, if it's a bad time, I can bug other people. I won't think anything other than that you're busy with the new home.

I'm enclosing the entire article, but must start with the comment left on the article:

Let them Eat Cake
"Two Veterans want to give themselves a parade?
Let them pay for it themselves!"

Veterans seek funding for Mesa parade
Jason Massad, Tribune
July 29, 2007
Private donations made sure last Veterans Day would be would be marked by the usual colorful floats, bands marching down Mesa's Main Street and throngs of people waving Old Glory.

Mesa had cut off funding for the annual parade to honor U.S. military personnel. It was among several city-sponsored community events that were stripped of funding after a round of budget cuts and staff layoffs.

Still, the parade went off without a hitch after a group of local veterans raised more than $15,000 to cover the loss of city dollars.

But it's becoming clear, the veterans say, that there won't be any money coming from Mesa this year. And maybe not even the year after.

This fall, the leaders of veterans groups will try to mount another campaign so they can have a proper parade on Nov. 12. But they face a roadblock, they say.

Many in Mesa don't realize the event was ever in jeopardy, said Frank Alger, a leader in the Mesa Veterans Parade Association.

"Ninety-five percent of the people I run into think that Mesa put it on," he said. "They have no clue that there's anything wrong."

The veterans group faces challenges this year in keeping the annual tradition alive.

Last year, a local Army veteran agreed to underwrite the entire event. In the end, the vet chipped in $2,000 to $3,000 after a successful fundraising campaign brought in most of the money for the event, Alger said.

There are no such promises this year.

The group has created a nonprofit organization to accept tax-deductible donations, and has already held two fundraisers. Organizers are planning a barbecue in August to boost the total, Alger said. So far, the organization has gathered more than $4,000 for the parade.

"This year we are all on our own," Alger said. "We're not a fly-by-night group. We want people to know that we're here to stay."

Jerry Walker, who's also involved with the parade organization, said the city should at least pitch in for security.

Last year, the veterans group paid more than $2,000 to hire Mesa police officers to provide security for the parade. City regulations require that police officers be paid for their service, and they can't volunteer, according to organizers.

Walker thinks the city should step up to the plate.

"They provide free police for the baseball team when they are here," Walker said, referring to Chicago Cubs spring training at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa. "It's not free, but they are already on salary."

The city might be too cash-strapped to put on a Veterans Day Parade, but they're backing it in spirit.

Mayor Keno Hawker issued a proclamation supporting the group, declaring September a month to recognize veterans.

For information about parade contributions call (480)-890-7469 or visit www.mesaveterans.org.

The Armorer has some experience with putting on parades (Leavenworth has more parades than anyplace else I've ever lived, and Rotary marshals one and participates in the others). The Master and Mistress of the Castle have made a donation. If you're in the area and can help directly, please do. If you're out of the area... well, do what your heart tells you to do.