The Bonefish Parade Float

2026 Parade Information

Bremerton Armed Forces Day Parade. May 16th 2026

Time: 10 am to Noon.

I will be leaving my house 0830. We will be staging in Section A of the parade this year as some VIPs will be riding on the float. See Map below.

Section A Staging Instructions
Your staging entrance will be located at 11th Street and Warren Avenue.

We kindly ask that you arrive between 8:50 a.m. and 9:10 a.m. to help ensure a smooth and organized lineup process.

VIP participants are requested to be at their assigned locations and parade ready by 9:30 a.m. so that we can capture pre-parade photographs prior to parade step-off at 10:00 a.m.

Event staff will be traveling back and forth throughout the staging area and will be available to assist participants as needed.

Your group will be escorting the following VIP participant:

A18 – Sailor of the Quarter MM1 Kyle Ringstrom (TRF) aboard your float.

LINK: https://greaterkitsapchamber.com/armed-forces-day-festival/

Kingston 4th of July Parade. July 4th 2026.

Noon to 1 pm.

I will be leaving my house around 1015. This is the first time we will be in this parade so watch this space for updates. Not a ton of data on their website but Kingston isn’t huge so should be easy.

The parade generally runs through downtown Kingston, following Highway 104. To view from start to finish, sit at or beyond the post office heading towards the ferry. Specific routes may vary slightly each year. Parking is available throughout Kingston, but downtown parking fills up quickly. Additional parking may be available in designated overflow areas.

LINK : https://www.kingston4thofjuly.org/schedule

Whaling Days Parade. July 25th 2026.

Time: 10 am to Noon

I will be leaving my house around 845. We are usually parked between Target and the Kitsap mall. Plenty of parking. I will return everyone to the west part of the Target parking lot once the parade is done. More information to follow as we get closer.

Link: https://whalingdays.com/schedule-of-events/

The Parade Float

History

In 1982, Lockwood Chapter WWII Subvet Ken Martinson designed and constructed the Bonefish conning tower at his home on Camino Island. A rented flat bed trailer was used to make Bonefish’s first show in the 1982 Auburn Veterans Day Parade. WWII Subvet and USSVI Bremerton Base Holland Club, National & base Life member Paul Christofferson gave his home made trailer up for a permanent carriage for Bonefish.

WWII Subvet Howard Bryson improved, maintained and towed the Bonefish in many parades around Western Washington. In 1997, WWII Subvet and USSVI Seattle Base Holland Club, National & Base Life member John Baker and USSVI Bremerton Base Holland Club, National & Base life member Jim Foote moved the Bonefish into the Granite Falls High School shop for an overhaul arranged by WWII Subvets State Commander Ed Kichgessner.

Upkeep of the float was then taken on by USSVI Bremerton Base. In 2002, the NW CPOA took on maintenance and installed a cover to keep Bonefish dry. In 2007, a complete overhaul of the float was conducted by the Bangor IMF First Class Petty Officers Association under direction of the NW CPOA.

Coming out of that overhaul, USSVI Associate life member Sam Swenson took responsibility for maintenance and improvements. New electrical wiring and rear fold up steps have been installed. A PA system was purchased for audio character. Other improvements are forth coming as preparations were made for the 2008 parades and future events.

In the fall of 2013, Sam added more detail to the parade float. Sam manufactured the bulwark that surround the bridge deck. He made scale models of a 40-mm machine gun on the cigarette deck (aft) and a 20-mm machine gun forward.

Sam has continued to make improvements and maintain Bonefish in tip top condition!

From whence we came!

In the Summer of 2020, under the leadership of Past Base Commander Steve Corcoran, the Base undertook a two year project to replace the float, which had become worn out from use and time. Over the course of more than a year (despite the challenges of COVID-19), the new float was constructed to the original specs and appearance, to maintain the salute to the USS Bonefish SS-223, lost during world War II.

The new float was commissioned on April 9, 2022 and regularly appears at five area parades as well as Veterans Events and the famed Bangor Trunk or Treat event, which has become a major Base event.

On May 10, 2025, the Float won the “Most Patriotic Entry” award for the Sequim Irrigation Festival Grand Parade, utterly defeating the US Marines to receive the coveted ribbon.

The float is currently maintained by the Float Manager, Mike Friend. Any questions can be directed to him or to the current Base Commander, Ileene Davis.