4th of July Patriotic Picnic in Angels Camp

Angels Camp Celebrates 4th of July- Retired Navy Captain Tapped to Conduct Ceremony

Angels Camp will host the second Annual Patriotic Picnic on July 4th in Utica Park. The event will be honoring our veterans. Besides the old fashion games, hotdogs and military bands there will also be a formal ceremony at 3 p.m. The Angels Camp Commemorative Committee has asked Jim Dodge to host the festivities.


"Jim Dodge is a retired Navy Captain with 29 years of active service as a Naval Flight Officer who flew in RA5C Vigilantes and F-14 Tomcats, and deployed aboard or flew from nine different aircraft carriers accumulating more than 3,600 flight hours and 700 carrier arrested landings. Captain Dodge Commanded VF-2; was Executive Officer of USS KITTY HAWK (CV63) and was the final Commanding Officer of Naval Air Station Alameda before closing the base and retiring to the Mother Lode, settling in Mountain Ranch in April 1997. Captain Dodge's wife Kathy is also a retired Navy Captain."
Captain Dodge will welcome other veterans, two military bands, VFW members as part of the official ceremony. The American Flag that will be flown that day has special significance to Dodge. "The flag was flown aboard USS HORNET at NAS Alameda on 25 April 1997 (the day Captain Dodge closed the air station and retired) in recognition of his efforts to save USS HORNET from being scrapped."
The late President Ronald Reagan once said “Some people live an entire lifetime and wonder if they have ever made a difference in the world, but the Marines don't have that problem.” The Patriotic Picnic is Free. There is no price for admission. The event is July 4 from noon – 5 p.m. in Utica Park, down town Angels Camp. For more information contact the ACBA office at 209-736-1333 or email acbasecretary@gmail.com.