First Night Leesburg - December 31, 2003

The Skyline of Leesburg on December 31 2003 by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia


First Night Leesburg December 31, 2003 Photographed and Reported By Norm Styer, AI2C of Clarkes Gap A Very Enjoyable and Smooth Operation Fourteen members of the Loudoun Amateur Radio Group and Loudoun Amateur Radio Emergency Service assembled in Leesburg on New Year's Eve 2003 for the annual emergency exercise for First Night Leesburg. Tom Dawson, WB3AKD of Round Hill, our Loudoun ARES Emergency Coordinator, and Mark Gillam, K4MDG of Lovettsville, our LARG Public Service Coordinator, organized this operation. Our Super Operators
AI2C - Norm Styer of Clarkes Gap K4MDG - Mark Gillam of Lovettsville KE4FYL - Allon Stern of Purcellville KE4RTP - Nancy Dluehosh of Leesburg KF4VLQ - Jacob Dawson of Round Hill KG4AVR - Angi Garasic of Haymarket KG4KZZ - Dave Putman of Leesburg	KU4WE - Don Heckman of Lovettsville NA4MA - Tom Garasic of Haymarket N4OPM - Pam Bozzi of Round Hill N4PD - Paul Dluehosh of Leesburg WA9LAZ - Chester Kmak of Leesburg WB3AKD - Tom Dawson of Round Hill WF1L - Bill McCourt of Reston
.	The Assembly Point Tom Dawson - WB3AKD and Mark Gillam - K4MDG had posted several messages and an Operations Plan on the LARG Reflector and on the Loudoun ARES Reflector; so, we knew to meet on the roof of the Leesburg parking garage at 1630 hours to install the antennas and communications equipment. It was a nice evening with temperatures in the fifties and clear. The FOX-5 TV chopper circled as we unloaded and the town began to block off the streets in anticipation of a big crowd.
Dave Putman - KG4KZZ Starts to assemble a discone antenna.
	Jacob - KF4VLQ and Tom Dawson - WB3AKD Had all the gear for the Net Control Station and Emergency Repeaters.
Chester Kmak - WA9LAZ and Don Heckman - KU4WE finish assemble of one of the antennas.
	Allon Stern - KE4FYL Prepares to lower coax cable over the roof to the basement of the Leesburg Office Building.
We Are Operational Within 40-minutes, K4LRG - Net Control and the two WB3AKD Repeaters were up !!! Net Control was equipped with transceivers on 147.480 MHz and 443.225 MHz. On the parking garage roof were the WB3AKD Repeaters. One operating on 443.225/448.225MHz and a 2-Meter to 440-MHz Crossband Repeater operating on 147.480 MHz. A 103.5 Hz tone control was used throughout the system. It provide great flexibility and allowed OutStation Operators to be equipped with either 2-Meters or 440 MHz transceivers. It operated like 'clock work." Shown here - clockwise - are Chester - WA9LAZ, Tom - WB3AKD, Tom - NA4MA, Dave - KG4KZZ and Allon - KE4FYL.
. As the sun settled on the old Leesburg Court House, folks - young and old - started to fill the town.
The Loudoun Border Guard Signals The Start !	.
. A Big Line Forms For The Next Show At The Tally-Ho
. The Loudoun County Supervisors' Boardroom Was Rockin'
The Weaver in the Loudoun County Government Center received lots of attention.	.
. This Fellow Almost Got Away !!! This show was standing room only all night.
Rose Rushbrooke of Aldie, wife of David Mullins, K4ARP, had a very attractive exhibit of her world-class work in the Loudoun County Government Center.	.
. Happy Holiday Days at Leesburg Town Office Building.
.	Paul - N4PD and Nancy - KE4RTP Dluehosh of Leesburg take a break at NCS.
Angi Garasic - KG4AVRP of Haymarket visits NCS.
	Pam Bozzi - N4OPM of Round Hill checks out Jacob Dawson - KF4VLQ - her son's operations at NCS.
Jacob Dawson - KF4VLQ of Round Hill. The Prime NCS Operator. Great Job !!!
. First Night Closes As A Few Head For The Lightfoot in Old Downtown Leesburg. By 2315 hours, the last head count had been made and the OutStations were released from the 20-some performance sites. It was a smooth operation. Everyone worked well together. By 2350 hours the NCS and Repeater equipment was loaded and all were 'Close Station - March Order." Happy New Year To All !!!!!

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