Regional Veterans, Descendants of Pioneering Fort Collins Families Focus of 1998 Community Homecoming Parade Oct. 10

American war veterans and descendants of some of Fort Collins’ pioneering families will be special participants in this year’s 4th annual Community Homecoming parade on Oct. 10, which will also commemorate the city’s 125th birthday.

Veteran participants include 90-year-old Bessie Tice, a World War II marine officer and the son of one of Fort Collins Civil War veterans, Fritz Upham. Representatives from all major airborne divisions and special forces units from around the states of Colorado and Wyoming will honor those members of the armed forces missing or killed in action in Europe, Korea and Vietnam. These include soldiers from the 82nd and 101st airborne units who parachuted into Normandy, Germany, North Africa, the South Pacific and Asia, as well as Grenada, Panama and Somalia.

Also featured in this year’s parade are descendants of some of the first families to settle the Fort Collins area. Peter and Priscilla Dressen are direct descendants of pioneer William McGaa and his Lakota wife, Jennie, who moved here in the 1860s. The Martinez and the Vigil families also came early to the Fort Collins area. Lorraine Vigil is a direct descendent of Donaciano Vigil, who settled here in the 1860s.

Other dignitaries include members of the Fort Collins City Council and the Poudre School District and officials of Colorado State University. There will also be the usual marching bands, creatively assembled floats, vintage vehicles, horse units and novelty entries.

The traditional Homecoming 5K Race starts at 8 a.m. on parade day and, this year, the Colorado State Alumni Center will host a Parade Pancake Breakfast from 7-9 a.m. at the Alumni center at Shields and Laurel streets. The parade begins at 9 a.m. at Mountain Avenue and Walnut Street in Old Town.

The following homecoming events are open to the public and are free unless otherwise noted. For more information, call (970) 491-7412.

Friday, Oct. 9

* Alumni Center Open House, 645 S. Shields St., 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Complimentary refreshments will be served and the public is welcome.

* Music Concert, Colorado State Oval, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

* Tours of Historic Campus Buildings, 2-3 p.m. Stroll around the campus to see several historic buildings. Tours will be conducted by members of the Student Alumni Connection.

* Better Dressing Through Chemistry, Room 145 Gifford Building, through Nov. 25.

Miss that polyester leisure suit? This exhibit explores the use of nylon, rayon, polyester and other fibers in fashion dress.

* Open House: department of food science and human nutrition, 2-5 p.m., Room 205 Gifford Building. Food tasting events and tours of the department will be conducted. Come hear about the latest nutrition and food product development.

* Rock Concert, Colorado State CampusWest Lawn and Lagoon, 4-6:15 p.m.

* 30th Birthday Barbecue College of Natural Sciences, 5-6:30 p.m., on the plaza east of Glover Building. Alumni, family and friends are invited to help celebrate three decades of commitment to excellence in education with a barbecue and birthday cake. Purchase $5 tickets in advance.

* Astronomy Presentation, department of physics, 7 p.m., Engineering/Physics Auditorium.

Experience the many wonders of our solar system as physics Professor Roger Culver reveals to you the mysteries of deep space. This spectacular slide presentation allows you a rare glimpse at the extraordinary phenomena that occur throughout the universe.

* Stargazing with the department of physics, 7:30-9 p.m., rooftop of the Natural and Environmental Sciences Building. Look at the evening sky through the astronomy teaching facility telescopes atop a three-story building. Faculty and students will help point out the highlights that appear in the autumn sky. Weather permitting.

Saturday, Oct. 10

* Homecoming 5K Race, 8 a.m., Colorado State Oval and campus. $15 per person. Runners and walkers are welcome at the 18th annual Homecoming 5K Race. The traditional campus course will start and finish at the beautiful CSU Oval. Entrants receive a long-sleeved T-shirt and the chance to win cool prizes. Sponsored by the department of exercise and sport science, the race supports the Adult Fitness Program. Tours will be available for the new Human Performance Clinical/Research Lab South College Gym and Field house. Call ESS at 491-5081, indicate age and T-shirt size on registration form.

* The Parade Pancake Breakfast, 7-9 a.m. Alumni Center, 645 S. Shields St. $3 for students and adults; $2 for children 12 and under. Sponsored by the Student Alumni Connection and the Larimer County Alumni Chapter, the public is welcome to feast on flapjacks and get ready for the parade. Contact: the Office of Alumni Relations at (970) 491-6533

* Community Homecoming Parade, 9 a.m., "There’s No Place Like Home…Happy 125th!"

It’s the biggest show in town! Again this year, the combination of three celebrations–Homecoming, Band Days and Poudre School District Homecoming– make this event a must-see! Additionally, this year the whole city is celebrating Fort Collins’ 125th birthday. Stepping off in Old Town, the floats, bands, novelty acts and dignitaries will wind their way toward campus ending at Moby Arena at about 9:30 a.m.

* Kiwanis Homecoming Car Show, Oak and Mason streets, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Enter your automobile to win prizes, trophies and dash plaques. Cost: $12 per entry.

* Ram Huddle Pregame Tailgater, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Hughes Stadium Parking Lot, southeast of Gate 5. $5 per person includes meal and choice of a soft drink or beer. Alumni, friends and fans gather at this pregame tailgater to meet, greet, eat and celebrate before the football game. Get together under the big top tent for food and fellowship. To ensure accurate food preparation, purchase your tickets in advance! Special sections will be set-up for reunion groups and other groups.

* Homecoming Football Game, Colorado State vs. Tulsa, Hughes Stadium, 1:30 p.m. Cheer on the Rams as they host the Golden Hurricane from Tulsa! Reserved seating on the west side of Hughes Stadium (nonstudent side) is $18 per person. For additional information, call (970) 491-RAMS.

* Halftime Awards Ceremony, Hughes Stadium. Halftime ceremonies will honor the Student Leadership Pacesetters and newly inducted members of the Colorado State Former Athletes Association.

* Celebration of Life Concert, Sunset nightclub, 7 p.m. $12 per person. An evening of instrumental music featuring some of the area’s finest musicians.