Nothing quite like a gathering of veterans around a campfire, telling tall tales and playing fiddles. I have been attending this shindig over the past 20 years. It is fun, stress reducing, and remarkably healing to be with our comrades who once went to war.
Base Camp will be hosting honored guests, Betsy Bayless, former Arizona Secretary of State, and the Director of Arizona Department of Veterans Affairs, retired Col. Joey Strickland, former 1st Air Calvary Crew Chief on a Huey Helicopter. Strickland served two tours in Vietnam, the second stint being with the 765th U.S Army Republic of Vietnam. Strickland is in his 5th year as the Director of Veterans Affairs, and his highly respected for his diligence and advocacy of the Veterans of Arizona.
Come early to get your camp site.
Do not miss these guests of honor. They are always jam packed with information and practical helpfulness.
BASE CAMP 2013
Veterans and friends are cordially invited to attend Base Camp 2013 to be held April 5, 6, and 7 (Friday, Saturday, Sunday, 2013). The purpose of Base Camp is to provide a location for veterans and friends to assemble and share camaraderie. Live music and entertainment is provided on Saturday night. ADMISSION IS FREE.
Base Camp has military ambiance with bunkers/fighting positions simulating a firebase or a line unit’s perimeter defense camp. Military apparel and military vehicles are welcomed. We fly the American, POW/MIA, and the Republic of Viet Nam flags. There is also a 35-foot high observation tower and other military type structures, water and two flush toilets, a stage for live entertainment on Saturday, and a shooting range dug into the ground at the base of a mountain as a backstop for target shooting. Camp out Friday and Saturday nights. Bring your own food, beverages, and drinking water. All veterans are encouraged to attend.
DIRECTIONS TO BASE CAMP
Traveling south on I-10 from Phoenix, exit I-10 at Wild Horse Pass. Take the first left turn (Maricopa) to go past Firebird Lakes on your left. Proceed past the fire station on your right to the T intersection with the stop sign. Turn right. Now you are on the road (Highway 347) to Maricopa. Go through Maricopa, cross the Railroad tracks by the big RR water tower and continue 2 miles to Ak Chin Casino. Highway 347 is also called John Wayne Highway. Go 2 miles past the casino to Papago (you will see a large Santa Rosa Cooling sign) where you turn right (west). Go west 4.5 miles on Papago until you curve left (south) on to Warren. Go about .9 miles south on Warren until you reach Val Vista where you turn right (west) onto a dirt road and go west .5 miles through the wash and past the canal to the first street on your left—Deer Trail. Turn left (south) onto Deer Trail, and go .5 miles to where it Ts into Quail Run. Go right (west) on Quail Run for .1 mile to the entrance of 9014 North Wealth Road and Base Camp. The house phone number is 520-868-6777 and my cell phone number is 602-509-8762.
SCHEDULE: April 5—1200—Set up camp
April 6—1000—Flag raising, fly-over, Betsey Bayless, Col. Joey Strickland, USA (Ret)
1200—1800–Open Time
1800—Entertainment
April 7–Break camp—go home
THERE ARE A FEW SIMPLE, FAIR RULES TO FOLLOW WHILE AT BASE CAMP.
- You WILL have fun.
- Shooting range use—SAFETY FIRST—and police all brass and ammo.
- NO ILLEGAL DRUGS.
4. HOLD HANDLE DOWN until toilet flushes completely as a courtesy to others.
5. POLICE your areas of ALL TRASH and respect other people’s rights and property.
We’ll see you at Base Camp 2013. For further information, call Joe at 602-509-8762 or 602-253-2378 or 520-868-6777.
Corrections were made to Col.Strickland’s biographical information.