Bigfork parade to be streamed over Web

The Bigfork Fourth of July parade goes live over the Internet this year to bring the quintessential patriotic hometown celebration to service men and women overseas and anyone else through www.adoptasoldier.tv.

“It starts at noon Monday,” said Kim Jones, Adopt a Soldier founder. “Anyone who has a family member, friend or neighbor in the military overseas or stateside — tell them about it.”

She wants the message to go viral for this first-time live streaming of the popular Bigfork celebration of the nation’s birthday. It’s a bootstrap effort on the part of Jones and her veteran son, Todd, who will run the camera.

“The best part is that it will be archived so, if someone is on duty or asleep, they can go in and watch later,” she said.

Jones said she got the idea after she purchased a video Internet marketing platform for her health and wellness business. Inspiration struck while she was taking training and learning about the capabilities of the platform.

“I said, ‘Do you mean I could broadcast our parade for our troops?’” she recalled.

As a member of the Bigfork Chamber of Commerce, Jones had been working on the parade. She knew this year’s celebration had a special military tribute with a jam-packed patriotic lineup.

“The VFW leads the parade,” Jones said. “And we have a very talented young woman who will sing ‘The Star-Spangled Banner.’ I’m told that she’ll knock your socks off.”

Other parade entries include the Patriot Guard Riders, the playhouse cast singing “God Bless America,” marchers carrying the RE/MAX 30-foot flag, a calliope playing patriotic songs and truckloads of military representing the Army Reserves, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Montana National Guard and more.

Jones said Valley Ford offered to provide red, white and blue trucks to carry service people as the float sponsored by the Scott Vallely Soldiers Memorial Fund and Adopt-a-Soldier.  

“I still need two drivers for the parade,” she said. “I hope some people in Kalispell or seniors might think it would be fun to drive in the Bigfork parade.”

Volunteers will need to pick up the trucks at the new Valley Ford dealership at 9 a.m. Monday, drive them to Bigfork and in the parade then drop them off at the dealership afterward. Jones said a key drop will make the return easy.

For those unable to participate or attend the parade, Jones offers the Internet-based version as an alternative way to enjoy the festivities. She said the webcast will flow through her laptop via Todd’s camera.

“My son has a professional video camera,” she said. “He’ll be right downtown catching the parade as it goes by.”

Jones tried to find a way to let Todd roam with the camera but had to settle for a stationary location. She discovered that would have required a satellite truck.

“We’ll just do it hometown,” she said.

She hadn’t decided whether she would do ongoing commentary. Jones is considering giving some introductory remarks in the warm-up period before the parade.

So far, the response to her idea has been heartening. Jones said she just hopes that word reaches military serving in places such as Afghanistan, Iraq and other hot spots.

Jones asks that people send a link to anyone they know. As of Wednesday, the website comes up but nothing was on the air yet.

“I haven’t stopped long enough to record an intro video,” Jones said.

She said she obtained the platform only a few weeks ago and is just learning all the different ways she can use it.

Jones was excited to discover that she can communicate with any of the deployed troops who have webcams, send them videos or upload videos to her website.

“The troops are my focus,” Jones said. “The good Lord put the troops in my heart when I was just a little girl.”

The daughter of a Marine, she still remembers setting up a table at school and selling bracelets with names of POWs and MIAs from the Vietnam War to raise money for that effort.  She started Adopt a Soldier during her son’s deployment to Iraq in 2007.

She wants the live-stream of the patriotic parade to show troops people do support the military at home.

“These wars have been going on so long that people are forgetting to show their support,” she said. “They need us so bad. Just a little card is like putting your arms around them and saying, ‘Take care of yourself. Somebody cares.’”

Jones said the Fourth of July is a good time for people to rededicate themselves to doing just one thing a month. She suggested writing one letter, sending a care package, donating to the Northwest Veterans Food Pantry or donating magazines or money to Magazinesfortroops.com run by Donna Chase in Lakeside.

“That is what America is celebrating,” Jones said. “It’s the sacrifice of soldiers for our freedom.”

People interested in driving trucks in the parade or who would like more information may contact Jones at 837-1088.

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at cchase@dailyinterlake.com.