Photographed by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia.
Leesburg March of Dimes Walk America 2006
A Public Service Communications Support Operation By Loudoun Amateur Radio Emergency Service
and the Loudoun Amateur Radio Group
- This Is Another "Count On Us" Operation -
Reported and photographed by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia

 

      The Amateur Radio Emergency Service of Loudoun County, Virginia, under the leadership of Emergency Coordinator, Tom Dawson - WB3AKD of Round Hill with support from the Loudoun Amateur Radio Group provided public service communications for the Leesburg March of Dimes Walk America on Sunday, April 30, 2006. The Operations Plan is available: Click Here.  and the Route Map is available: Click Here.

Photographed by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clakes Gap, Virginia.

Here They Come - Move in' Out Past Check Point #1 - There Must Have Been A Couple Hundred !!!


     First, it all started before 0800 hours on a bright clear early Sunday morning. I cleared the top of Canby Road and turned east on Thomas Mill as the first signals from WB3AKD started roll in' in on 147.480 MHZ - our local LARG 2-Meter simplex frequency. Tom Dawson was looking for LARG/ARES members to check in and pick up their assignments.

     At Ida Lee Park on the north side of Leesburg, I found WB3AKD/Mobile and Boyd Garrett - N5CTI of CountrySide discussing the route over a cup of coffee. Tom told me to take Check Point 1 and provided a detailed street map. I was to be operational by 0845 hours.

     By 0830 hours, Denny Boehler - KF4TJI of Leesburg had deployed our ARES repeater, WB3AKD/R on 443.225 MHz with a PL of 107 Hz. Denny had set up in the middle of the route and the repeater provided great coverage throughout the operation.

     By 0845 hours, we were deployed:

   NCS at Ida Lee - WB3AKD, Tom Dawson of Round Hill
   Event Coordinator Shadow - Kurt Reber, KI4FWB of Lovettsville
   CP-1 - Norm Styer, AI2C of Clarkes Gap
   CP-2 - Boyd Garrett, N5CTI of CountrySide
   CP-3 - Carol Boehler, KF4TJJ of Leesburg
   CP-4 - Chuck Graham, KI4IEO of Leesburg
   WB3AKD/R Repeater - Denny Boehler of Leesburg
   Ida Lee Park Entrances - Jeff Slusher - KE5APC of Leesburg

Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia.



Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia.

So where are we ? - Map recon by Jeff Slusher - KE5APC and Boyd Garrett - N5CTI

 



Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia.

Check Point #1 - Norm Styer - AI2C


Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia.

The Route After Check Point #1 - Takes You Through Quiet Neighborhoods and on Park Trails



Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia.

Check Point #3- As they cleared CP-1, I was reassigned to CP-3 and I got there before the masses.


Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia.

Check Point #3- By 0950 hours, CP-3 got very busy.



Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia.

Post Walk At Ida Lee - It didn't take long; by 1100 hours most had closed on the park.



Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia.

Some Nice Sounds - Folks just sat around and enjoyed the morning or played games with their children.



Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia.

Close Station - March Order Was at 1130 hours  - Just enough time for some free chow.

This was a pleasant family friendly event with few hitches and all very safe.
From Right: Chuck Graham - KI4IEO, Denny Boehler - KF4TJI, Carol Boehler - KF4TJJ,
Tom Dawson - WB3AKD and Kurt Reber - KF4FWB.

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