I was so honored to escort our local Pearl Harbor Survivors for the 2009 Las Vegas Veteran's Day Parade. Ginnie (the Vice President's wife, who organizes the parades) was very concerned that they wouldn't be able to appear because none of them are strong enough to carry the banners and flags for the mile plus parade route. She asked me to find some volunteers. My marketing director Krystal's daughter and and her family and friends were happy to help out.

I rode Metal of Honor in the front, followed by the big banner carried by Holly and best friend Madison, Dr. Collins and Madison's Grandpa Ken came next, proudly carrying the American flag and the Survivors flag followed by the Survivors in two cars. Ike (89), Jack (94, the oldest Survivor in Las Vegas) and Tiny Gold and Clif (88, Vice President of the Chapter) & Ginnie Dohrmann were able to make it out. President Ed Hall and his wife Doreen had to cancel due to illness. Krystal and Norah (with her two patriotic parade dogs) roamed up and down the group, passing out bumper stickers and bookmarks to the huge crowds. We ran out before we even hit the halfway mark! Krystal decked out the cars with ribbon and tinsel, not to mention painting & decorating the kids.

Despite Clif's advancing age, he marched alongside the car for most of the route. The crowd gave him a lot of applause. Ginnie told us later that we had made it so worry-free for them that if they are still able to drive next year, they will attend now that they know they have our support.

We are still adding to our flickr album, so please check back for more pics.

We had a great time out at the Vegas Valley Book Festival this weekend. Our friend Richard had a nice tent set up for us in the Local Authors Fair area in the historic Frank Lloyd Wright courtyard of the 5th Street School.

The bike got a lot of attention, but it was eclipsed by our special guests — local Survivor Clif Dohrmann and his wife Ginnie.



Las Vegas Pearl Harbor Survivor Clif Dohrmann (Navy Aircrew, Kanehoe Bay) tells a young man about his experiences on the morning of December 7, 1941 at the Pearls Of Honor booth during the local Authors Fair at the 2009 Vegas Valley Book Festival.

Clif spoke to several people about his experiences on December 7th and even took to the podium to educate the audience on the importance of supporting today's military personnel.


Two sisters listen intently to living history as local Pearl Harbor Survivor Clif Dohrmann recounts his experiences on the morning of December 7, 1941 during the Local Author's Fair at the 2009 Vegas Valley Book Festival. Mr. Dohrmann was the guest of author Dana Harbaugh. Mr. Harbaugh's book Pearls of Honor: Their Duty to Remember will profile the current activities of the Survivors to keep the memory of World War II and the attack on Pearl Harbor alive for today's generation.

Dana visits with Clif and Ginnie.

Ginnie showing some children a picture of the PBY aircraft that Clif flew aboard throughout World War II. Clif related that of the 36 PBYs stationed at Kanehoe Bay on December 7th, only 3 were intact after the Japanese attacks because they had been out on patrol.

When the Zeros arrived, the aircraft were parked wing to wing, fully fueled with 1,700 tons of high octane gas for Monday morning maneuvers. When the bombs and gun fire hit them, they went up like bombs themselves. There was little the Navy sailors could do. Clif and other sailors pulled machine guns from the burning planes and ran to the ammo lockers as fast as they could in an attempt to meet the threat from the air.

Dana yielded his time on the microphone over to Clif in order for the audience to get a taste of "living history" right from the mouth of a Survivor.

We hope to see our Las Vegas residents come out for tomorrow's Veteran's Day Parade. As I mentioned earlier, this will be the chapter's last parade. Join us at 4th Street and Gass Ave. at 10am to show your support for all of our troops and veterans.