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These photos were taken on November 14, 2009.
They show our attempt to drive a Sherman M4 down our main street (State
Street) which was thwarted by the Santa Barbara Police Department. The
tank had already been unloaded when the cops appeared and asked for
a permit. Unfortunately there had been some mixup in issuing such a
permit and consequently the Sherman went back on the lowboy. But it
was still allowed to be part of the parade of about a dozen WW II military
vehicles and a helicopter of Vietnam vintage.
Quite an accomplishment for such a liberal town like Santa Barbara!
Ex-governor Pete Wilson, a former Marine, rode in one of the jeeps and
was the keynote speaker at the Military Ball that evening sponsored
by the Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Museum and the Santa Barbara Navy
League. Almost 600 guests attended the annual event at the Doubletree
Hotel on the beach. Many veterans and active duty members of the armed
forces were present in their dress uniforms. The food was excellent
and so was the entertainment by a big band and performances by a group
of swing dancers who later asked guests to dance with them.
Herman Pfauter MVPA #5399
Santa Barbara, CA
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