Camp Verde Cavalry: an institution of horseback re-enactors of Fort Verde Days.
The Camp Verde Cavalry is an institution of skilled horsemen and re-enactors who first performed in the Fort Verde Days’ Parade back in 1958.
In those early years, the newly formed cavalry lacked appropriate uniforms and equipment, but the frontier solider look-alikes were anxious to feel the part. It wasn’t long before they had replica uniforms and boots made. Since then, this prestigious assembly, with authentic McClellan saddles, bridles, and sabers, and replicated military uniforms and insignia, has acting in most major cities in Arizona and Las Vegas, during Memorial Day cemetery tributes at Fort Whipple (the fallen rider ceremony), at weddings and are an ever present foundation of Fort Verde Days’ parades.
“We led the parade every year in Camp Verde,” explained Howard Parrish who has only missed two performances in all those years.
Almost 50 years later, Mr. Parrish is the only remaining “active” member out of the original 16 or 18 charter members.
The idea of the Camp Verde Cavalry, he explained, originated with Malcom Stenhouse soon after the traditional Fort Verde Days festival began.
“All other towns have a sheriff’s posse but we had a fort (Fort Verde) and formed the cavalry.”
Howard, like the others, is an expert horseman. He also was in the armed forces in the military government under Gen. MacArthur in Japan from 1946-47. So were his dad and two brothers, who served in World War I, World War II and Korea, respectively. None were drafted but all volunteered, a proud family tradition that currently includes a couple of nephews stationed in Iraq.
“My dad was in the First World War in the cavalry. In fact he broke horses for them. I was raised on a farm and worked and rode horses. When I was a little bitty kid, they trained horses to lay down so we could get on them. I’ve been around horses all my life,” he explained.
“When we (Cavalry) first started, all were cowboy types. Tuffy Peach (the last local horseback mail carrier) rode, Kenny Wingfield had a ranch, the Kovacovichs were raised with horses.”
Asked how the horses learn to march and be unafraid of noise, he explained.
“I shoot blanks and get them used to gunfire. After that it doesn’t bother them. A horse has to get confidence in me and then they’ll know I’ll take care of them.”
The Camp Verde Cavalry has received numerous awards through the years for their performances including large events in Phoenix and Tucson.
Cavalry members are devoted and most of their expenses, including lodging, gas and travel time, comes out of their own pockets.
Currently, he said there are about half a dozen members but always welcomes new recruits. Besides himself, he said there are: Joe Butner, Dave Carter, Louis Cox, Sherman Loy, Jim Randall, and Leon Leoni.
He added, “We go to represent Camp Verde. I’ll tell you what – we’ve had a lot of fun. I’ve really enjoyed going to different places and seeing different things (he loves old buildings). To me it’s a part of history.”
To learn more about the Camp Verde Cavalry and Fort Verde Days, contact the Camp Verde Chamber of Commerce, (928) 567-9294; e-mail: info@campverde.org
By Howard Parrish . . . In His Words
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