 First Sgt. Butch Kelley 215 Sage Dr. Lamar CO 81052 719-336-7661 Board Members President Rod Cooley 719-442-6826 Secretary John Lemons 719-275-0254 Treasurer Tom Deppe 303-758-7578 |
 Pvt. John Lemons carries the National Colors as part of the color guard at a parade in Custer County, Colo |
MAKE A DONATION - SEND ORIS REED AND HIS MULES TO THE ROSE PARADE
Go to 7th US Memorial Cavalry Rose Parade page |
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News Release by 7th U.S. Memorial Cavalry First Sgt. Butch Kelly The 2005 Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade, held on New Year's Day, will feature an entry called "America's Cavalry" sponsored by the United States Cavalry Assoc., USCA, of Ft. Riley, Kansas and the 7th U. S. Memorial Cavalry based here in Colorado. The entry will be comprised of 20 cavalry re-enactors from Colorado, Texas, and California, and will be showcasing American cavalry history with a time line. The first rank of four troopers will represent the 1st U. S. Dragoons of 1833 to 1851. The second rank of four will represent the 7th Michigan Brigade which is Union cavalry of 1861 to 1865. The third rank of four will represent the 7th U.S. Cavalry, the Indian War period from 1866 to 1890. The fourth rank of four will represent World Wars I and II from 1916 to 1942.
Leading this entry will be a vintage 1878 Army escort wagon carrying such noted dignitaries as General Phil Bolte, retired, President of the United States Cavalry Association and West Point graduate of 1950. His class was the last to receive any horse training. General Bolte was awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart in both Korea and Vietnam.
Pulling the dignitary wagon will be a pair of beautifully matched mules owned and driven by Oris G. Reed of Lamar, Colorado. Riding next to Mr. Reed as guard will be Mr. Clint States also of Lamar. This team has been seen in local parades around the area.
Adding beauty and grace to this rugged picture of horse soldiers will be Laura Kelley of Lamar, Colorado. Ms. Kelley will be riding sidesaddle in the Indian War rank. She will be wearing a beautiful blue riding habit worn by ladies in 1868.
The Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade is 5 ½ miles in length and takes approximately two hours to ride. With one million spectators lining the parade route, an estimated U.S. domestic audience of 90 million, and an international audience of 325 million in over 100 countries, this parade is one of the most widely publicized events in the world.
For more information contact Butch Kelley at 719-336-7661
The 7th US Memorial Cavalry, headquarters in Denver, Colorado, consisting of 24 members, is the unit that has asked me to use my mules to pull the 1887 restored army escort wagon in the Rose Parade.
In November the unit will participate in the Veterans Day parade in Colorado Springs, Colorado. That will be my mules' first parade with the unit. I am told that that is one loud parade! Fort Carson really puts on a show. Lots of cannon, and rifle fire, loud army vehicles, etc.
The unit rides in military formation, straight lines and regulated distances apart. I am honored to be a part of this unit and I am excited to be going to the Rose Parade!
Photo: Oris Reed (right), Clint States (left) and mules Kate and Molly. Clint will be trailering the mules from Colorado to California and will ride in the wagon at the Rose Parade.
Photo credit: Virgil Cochran, Lamar Daily News
| MAKE A DONATION |
Donations can be made by money order or personal check only at this time. Donations may be tax deductible - please consult your accountant or tax advisor. The 7th US Memorial Cavalry First Sergeant's name is Butch Kelley; he can be reached at 719-336-7661.
Click on the Donate button to go to a printable form to make your donation. If you wish, you may indicate an individual in the 7th US Memorial Cavalry to whom the donation is to go for expenses for the Rose Parade. You may also contact Oris Reed directly to arrange to make a donation. 
Go to 7th US Memorial Cavalry Rose Parade page
Go to 7th US Memorial Cavalry page
