Organizers Say Fund Problems Won’t Stop Veterans Parade

Despite fund-raising problems and an identity crisis, an Oxnard event planned to honor Desert Storm troops and other U.S. war veterans on the Fourth of July will go on as scheduled, organizers maintained Friday.

As of Friday, the steering committee for the Oxnard Airport event had raised only about $2,500 of the $11,000 needed, according to Ross Olney, Operation Homecoming’s communications chairman.

But Larry Forsman, chairman of the committee, said “there is no question” that the financial goal will be reached.

“At first, we had problems getting the word out, but we’re now receiving excellent cooperation from the media,” Forsman said. “This is going to be a great event.”

Olney agreed. “The slow economy hasn’t helped, but business people are starting to come through,” he said. “Individuals are responding, too, with $10 and $15 checks.”

Olney, like Forsman, said there is no danger that Operation Homecoming will join the Ojai fireworks show on this year’s Fourth of July sidelines. The Ojai show was canceled because the fireworks company backed out of the deal.

“We’re going ahead with our celebration, even if we don’t raise another penny,” Olney said. “We’ll pass the hat at the airport if we have to.”

Jeanie Pelkey, a committee member and spokeswoman for the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Port Hueneme, said some people may have confused the Oxnard event with the Point Mugu Air Show, which will be held at the Navy’s nearby Pacific Missile Test Center on July 6 and 7.

Pelkey said further confusion, and some disappointment, may have been caused by reports that the Navy’s famed Blue Angels flying team would be part of the program. The team will appear at the Point Mugu Air Show but will not be part of Operation Homecoming, she said.

Olney said a crowd of 10,000 to 15,000 is expected. “We’ll be happy with 15,000,” he said.

Besides a parade with an expected 1,000 or more Desert Storm veterans, Operation Homecoming will feature displays of major weapons and equipment used by both U.S. and Iraqi forces in the war.

These will include three large guns captured from the Iraqis, a model of the Navy’s Tomahawk missile and a LARC amphibious diving platform. A giant grader and other equipment used by Navy Seabees in the war will also be displayed.

Officials at Port Hueneme and other nearby bases are encouraging current members of the military to attend, Olney said.

But veterans of all wars are welcome and will be given identifying insignia to wear, Olney said.

Pelkey said the crowd will be entertained by civilian aircraft flybys and parachutists who will unfurl a giant American flag in midair.

Desert Storm veterans and their families will be treated to free barbecue dinners prepared by members of the Knights of Columbus. Veterans of the war may obtain tickets by calling Pelkey at 982-4493. Olney said enough meat has already been bought to feed 2,500.

Gates open at 12:30 p.m. and the program starts at 1:35 p.m.

The celebration will be held at the airport’s east end near Ventura Road, said Nona Makinson, operations manager of the Ventura County Department of Airports. Free parking will be available on the east side of Ventura Road just north of 5th Street, she said.

Makinson said she did not expect the event to interfere with scheduled flights or private aircraft that normally use the airport.