Copperopolis Veteran of Foreign Wars members Ralph Murphy, a vice commander, and Al Gilbert, former commander, greet shortly after the Copperopolis Veterans Day Parade Saturday. Gilbert was named parade grand marshal.Enterprise photo by Jason Cowan
It is safe to say nothing was going to keep Al Gilbert away from the Copperopolis Veterans Day Parade Saturday.
Last week, the former commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Copperopolis lost an inch of bone off his left leg via amputation. Then, just days before the event, he fell off the scooter he is subjected to ride while he heals.
Somehow though, he made it to the event along Main Street where he was riding shotgun in a white car alongside former Marine Corps. Pfc. Steve Gilbert, his son, and Dennis “Denny” Thompson, a decorated 1st. Lt. pilot in World War II.
There, Gilbert learned he had been named grand marshal for the celebration.
Gilbert was one of the many veterans that celebrated, rode, marched and waved their way down Main Street to the delight of the hundred or so that speckled the streets for the morning time festivities.
Without him, perhaps there may not have been any Copperopolis Veterans Day celebration in the first place.
Color guard for the Copperopolis Veterans of Foreign Wars branch and Michael Axiak, commander, stand at salute for the national anthem Saturday. They led the parade. Enterprise photo by Jason Cowan
Prior to the formation of the Copperopolis parade, there was no veteran dedicated event in town, Gilbert said. They had homecoming festivities and founder’s celebrations, but nothing for those who served.
By the time the Copperopolis post certified in 2012, Gilbert was coordinating with county contacts for permissions, requesting road closures and drumming up some of the joy and excitement for the commemoration.
The parade, a big feat for the post in Copperopolis, has struggled throughout its brief five year history. Gilbert said there have been years where more people participated in the event than showed up to watch.
“It depends on the day of the week. Sometimes It falls on a day of the work week and many people might not have the day off,” he said. “Other times, it’ll fall on a Friday and people will go out of town.”
Through Gilbert’s dedication however, you would never expect it.
He lost his foot up to 9 inches below his knee in March after he contracted gangrene from a diabetes diagnosis last December. He was only starting to get the hang of his prosthetic replacement before an infection required doctors to take another inch off.
Jennifer Roland, of White Pines, sings the Star Spangled Banner with tears streaming down her face at the Copperopolis Veterans Day Parade Saturday. The veteran from the Persian War said her mother, a marine, died in January. Enterprise photo by Jason Cowan
Still, with stitches over a recovering wound he called tender Saturday, he made it to the parade.
“I could have said I didn’t feel good,” Gilbert said. “I am committed to the parade 100 percent.”
Like many veterans from the Vietnam War, Gilbert was exposed to Agent Orange during his time abroad from 1966-67 where he, as a petty officer equipment operator, helped build a runway for an airbase in Chu Lai in Vietnam.
His Agent Orange exposure manifested into diabetes late last year.
After the parade, which featured more than 30 floats, the post hosted a barbecue and raffle at the Copperopolis Fire Department. There, Jennifer Truman, a teacher at Bret Harte High School, was honored with a plaque for her “outstanding performance for students throughout District 13″ of the VFW.
Michelle Reimann waves at spectators as part of the Ladies Auxiliary post 92118. The post was one of about 30 entries in the Copperopolis Veterans Day Parade Saturday. Enterprise photo by Jason Cowan
In addition to regular events where veterans are invited to speak of their experiences to students, Truman introduced the “Voices of Democracy” competition to her students last year before former Bret Harte student Savannah Wittman beat out 40,000 students nationally for a $30,000 scholarship last spring.
Al Sams, of Angels Camp, streams a flag from inside his Chevrolet Impala Saturday during the Veterans Day Parade in Copperopolis. Enterprise photo by Jason Cowan
The Bret Harte Marching Band echoes down Main Street in Copperopolis during the parade. Enterprise photo by Jason Cowan
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