All area veterans – whether they served in active, reserve or National Guard service and whether or not they served in wartime or peace – are invited to walk with their families in the upcoming Veterans Day parade in Lexington.
The parade will start at Oak Grove Cemetery at 10:30 a.m. and proceed down Main Street to the Veterans Memorial where there will be a ceremony and guest speakers.
The parade is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the dedication of the memorial, the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, the 100th anniversary of the arrival of the World War I captured German cannon given to Rockbridge County to honor WWI veterans, VMI Founders Day and, most of all, veterans.
There are two more reasons for the parade, said Bob Hopkins, parade chairman. “This is an opportunity for families to show honor for their veteran by walking proudly together with him or her. The second objective for the parade is to try to educate school children on who veterans are and why we honor them on Veterans Day.”
That is why, he noted, Rockbridge County Public Schools is send-
, page B2 ing a total of over 400 students from every school in the district, and Lexington is sending fifth-graders from Waddell Elementary to sing and the entire student body of 190 children from Lylburn Downing Middle School to be spectators.
Participants to date include Virginia Military Institute cadets and music contingent, fire and rescue vehicles, National Guard soldiers and vehicles, floats and Mark Cline as Uncle Sam. The first 500 children will get a free balloon and flag to wave, the Parry McCluer and Rockbridge County high school bands will play and their cheerleaders will carry banners announcing the veterans as they walk in groups of the branch of the military they served in.
“I urge all veterans to please plan to walk with their families,” Hopkins said. “The community wants to thank you for your sacrifices and your service. This will be a red, white and blue day with lots of patriotism and pride.”
