MacDill joins pirate invasion, shares booty with residents

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Juanika Glover
  • 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
MACDILL AFB, Fla. --  Faux pirates, kings, southern bells and even MacDill's 6th Air Mobility Wing commander became swash buckling superstars for a day at the annual Gasparilla Parade Saturday.

A familiar route home for many Team MacDill members, Bayshore Boulevard was party-central for the 104- year tradition which lured thousands of Tampa residents, tourists and servicemembers to the three and a half mile adventure.

Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla took the key to the city from Tampa's Mayor Pam Iorio Saturday morning and the band of buccaneers set sail to into the imaginations and lives of parade goers.

Kim Norman, 6th AMW Protocol Office deputy chief, was given the opportunity to be in the parade for the first time. She spent three hours showering adoring fans with hundreds of colorful beads.

"The parade was so exciting; I didn't know so many people would be screaming; they loved me because they wanted beads," she said.

Ms. Norman said she went through six big bags of beads before her arms felt tired. Then she had someone bring more because the fans couldn't get enough.

"Now I know how a pitcher feels when they are constantly throwing a baseball, because at the end of the night my arms were aching and my fingers were sore with calluses on them. But the fun was worth the pain,"she laughed.

Along with the Protocol Office, a number of other groups came out to represent the military. The Navy's marching band was preceded by Musician Third Class Phil Stacey, who won a spot on the 2007 season of American Idol.

The Air Force Recruiting Service brought a mini Thunderbird F-16 and the Army threw gold and black beads from a float made to look like an amphibious assault vehicle.

Col. Robert Thomas, 6th AMW commander, and his wife Mari, made their debut in a turquoise Chevrolet Corvette.

"My wife and I were in awe at the turnout for the Gasparilla parade and we had the time of our lives. It was great to see the wonderful community of Tampa come together to celebrate a tradition that has lasted more than a century," Col. Thomas said.

"I was truly honored that the 6th AMW was invited to be a part of such a big event and it just goes to show how much the community appreciates the military's presence in Tampa," he added.


The pirates spent the rest of the day sharing their sparkling treasures, while parade goers danced, filled their bellies with fast food and screamed until their voices gave out.

As another Gasparilla tradition came to a close, people spent the last of their voices comparing who caught the most unique beads.