American Legion to host 4th Annual Veterans Day Parade
Laurel American Legion Post 19 will honor our veterans on Saturday, Nov. 12 for the 4th Annual Eastern Shore Veterans Day Parade in downtown Laurel.
The theme for the parade will be “Heroes Wear Dog Tags.” The parade will honor the following local service members killed in the line of duty in Iraq or Afghanistan as Grand Marshals posthumously: Sgt. Andrew Creighton of Laurel; Lance Cpl. Richard James of Seaford; Spec. Tommy Lee Latham of Delmar, MD; Spc. Ryan Long of Seaford; and Cpl. Cory Palmer of Seaford.
Returning to the parade will be the Baltimore City Police Mounted Unit and the United States Air Force Honor Guard from Anacostia-Bolling.
The parade is also welcoming high school marching bands from both Pennsylvania and Maryland. Along with these participants, there will also be other military units, local organization floats, and many other tributes.
The parade will step off at 11 a.m. and proceed through the town on Central Avenue ending near GameZone. The judge’s stand will be stationed in front of the Laurel Senior Center.
The Parade Chair, Chris Shirey, said this parade was started to honor those who serve, or have served.
“Each year there has been a special story that gives us motivation to continue,” said Shirey.
One story, Shirey explained, was of a father who had his son's uniform altered so he could wear it during the parade. His son gave his life in Vietnam and he wanted to incorporate his son in a special way.
“It also gives us all a chance to thank those who did this and to share our pride in our country,” said Shirey.
Members of Post 19, along with the Auxiliary, Sons of the American Legion, and Legion Riders have all played an important role in orchestrating this event as it grows from year to year, said Shirey.
One member of the American Legion Post 19, Bill Morrow, said it is always an honor to be involved in this parade.
Morrow, a Veteran of the United States Marine Corps, who served in Vietnam, said to see so many citizens come out and honor those who have fought for the country and are fighting now, is very humbling.
“I was honored when I was asked to be a part of the Color Guard at the Legion, and now I get to ride on the float for the parade, which is always great to see so many supporting our veterans,” said Morrow.
He said that seeing this event grow over the past three years has been really encouraging for the town as well as the American Legion and all of its partnerships in the community.
Many organizations have been involved in the creation and continuation of this parade over its four years.
Delaware Technical Community College has produced radio ads as well as news articles for the parade’s advertising over the past two years.
Jessica Farley, instructor at Delaware Tech uses the radio ad as a project in one of her communications classes, to show students the techniques of scripting and producing ads.
Farley said, that students are placed in groups, provided the details of the event from the parade’s website and then come up with the concepts content, and scripts on their own.
She said they receive some help from the lab specialist to piece together the actual production and add in music and sound effects, but almost all of the “real work” is done by them.
“It’s always very exciting when student projects are used by outside agencies,” said Farley.
She also included that working on these projects often give students a surge of confidence and motivation to produce the best work, so it can be shared with the community, outside of campus doors.
To get more information about the upcoming festivities, or to look at more photos from years past, visit the website, devetparade.com. If you would like to walk in honor of one of the grand marshals, email kparker627@gmail.com.
The Baltimore City Police Mounted Unit lined up and ready to march in the parade last year. Photo by S. Monroe.
