9th Infantry Archives - KCAW https://www.kcaw.org/tag/9th-infantry/ Community broadcasting for Sitka and the surrounding area Fri, 07 Jul 2017 23:45:46 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Slideshow: Cool weather doesn’t dampen Sitka’s July 4 spirit https://www.kcaw.org/2017/07/05/slideshow-cool-weather-doesnt-dampen-sitkas-july-4-spirit/ https://www.kcaw.org/2017/07/05/slideshow-cool-weather-doesnt-dampen-sitkas-july-4-spirit/#respond Thu, 06 Jul 2017 02:11:36 +0000 https://www.kcaw.org/?p=45936

(KCAW photo/ Cameron Clark)

 

Sitkans came out in droves to see the annual 4th of July Parade, which snaked throughout town, leaving smiles wherever it went. 

KCAW’s Cameron Clark talked with onlookers as they enjoyed the day.

Downloadable audio.

Patriotically dressed Sitkans and visitors alike line the streets eagerly awaiting the start of the annual 4th of July Parade. Children sit atop parents’ shoulders, cameras are at the ready, and everyone has a smile on their face.

Independence Day is a special occasion in Sitka. And Steve Dalquist wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I think it makes you really feel like you’re part of the same community because it seems like almost everybody in town is either in the parade or watching the parade,” Dalquist said. “It’s the best parade in the world! It just is, and you have to live here to know that.”

Slideshow: Sitka’s 4th of July 2017

(All photos/KCAW Cameron Clark)

With the 9th Infantry leading the charge, the parade truly represents Sitka. It included groups like the Veterans Association, local businesses like Sea Mart, the Sitka Fine Arts Camp band and everything in-between.  

Charlene Frederick was born and raised in Sitka, but now lives in New Mexico. She still comes back here every fourth.

“This is the only place that I watch a parade because my emotional roots are still here,” Frederick said. “When we were growing up it was still a territory and then it became a state, so we feel like a part of history.”

As the parade came to an end, onlookers made their way to the Cable House where they satisfied their sugary needs with Root Beer floats, and talked about the day’s highlights.

Kids: “I think it was fun! I think it was nice to see how many people gather together to go and march for the 4th of July.”

KCAW: Favorite part?

Kids: “Umm the little weiner dogs (laughs) they had their own little section just walking downtown. That was amazing! Geavana what was your favorite part?

“Candy!” (laughs)

“My part was all the candy!”

“I like candy when they throw it out!”

“I like candy too!”

With goodie bags and stomachs filled, another 4th of July celebration is in the books. And Veteran Gary Johnson has only one thing left to say.

“God bless America!”

]]> https://www.kcaw.org/2017/07/05/slideshow-cool-weather-doesnt-dampen-sitkas-july-4-spirit/feed/ 0 Fourth of July parade sunny with chance of chickens https://www.kcaw.org/2016/07/05/sitka-celebrates-its-community-of-heroes/ https://www.kcaw.org/2016/07/05/sitka-celebrates-its-community-of-heroes/#respond Wed, 06 Jul 2016 00:40:27 +0000 http://www.kcaw.org/?p=27647 IMG_7963

A young girl with an umbrella watches the Sitka Fire Department’s annual “Water Fight” (Photo KCAW/Katherine Rose).

Chicken Little once said “The sky is falling, the sky is falling!” At Sitka’s annual Fourth of July parade, the sky remained mostly blue, and the only rain — to the dismay of Chicken Little — was poultry.

KCAW’s Katherine Rose reports on why chickens fall from the sky, and other quirky fun on Independence Day in Sitka.

Downloadable audio

Fourth of July in Sitka is just a bit different than everywhere else. In Sitka, water always falls from the sky. It often rains, but the weather this year was perfectly sunny. Nevertheless, parade goers got drenched all the same.

Sounds of fire trucks

Kids chanting “Water fight! Water fight!”

Two fire trucks pull up on either end of the square on Lincoln Street. They get their hoses ready, and one of them places a red-white-and blue barrel in the middle of the road. Both teams line up, and spray the barrel, like a water tug-of-war, trying to move the barrel to the other team’s side for the win.

Sounds of the water fight

The “water fight” is even more fitting this year. The theme “Sitka, Community of Heroes,” named the Sitka High School basketball team as the parade’s grand marshals. In March, the team helped rescue 11 people from a burning building in Anchorage.

Sound of water hoses

And if it’s not water falling from the sky, it’s something else…

Sound of gunshots

That’s the 9th Infantry with their black powder rifles and pistols. They shoot them off throughout the parade, but they save a few shots for the very end, when in front of Harry Race Pharmacy. And if you look closely, you might notice someone peeking over the roof of the building. That’s Soren White.

“As they pass by I’m hiding up on the roof with a lot of rubber chickens. If you collect one you can go get a milkshake at Harry’s,” said White.

I ask him if kids think it’s like magic, or if they notice him up on the roof. He’s been caught a few times…

“Especially today because I kinda hit a car (haha) but it worked out.”

After a little strategizing, the chicken was retrieved from the top of the truck. And throwing rubber chickens isn’t just some mindless activity. There’s a definite strategy involved…

“You gotta get the arc right because you don’t want to hit anybody,” said White. “Just kinda back off and then arc it so it doesn’t look like I’m actually throwing it.

You’d think these two Sitka-specific activities would be the highlight for many, but for a lot of kids it all goes back to the most important cornerstone of any good parade.

“That we get candy!”

“Throwing candy, that was amazing.”

“Umm, um, well the person who was throwing the hot c’s…hot cheetos.” 

And who gave out the best candy?

“Um…the police?”

I think that’s still up for debate, though.

Sounds of parade/music trailing off

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