Veterans Day parade and ceremony to be held on Nevada Square

Nevada Housing Authority Executive Director Carol Branham sat down with the Nevada Daily Mail to discuss the upcoming Veterans Day Parade. The parade is scheduled for 3:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 11, on the Nevada Square, immediately followed by a ceremony.

As a member of the Nevada Elks Lodge No. 564, Branham wanted to give back to the community much like the Elks do through their various community projects.

"I decided this was something that as a community leader and a member of the Elks Lodge that I could take on as a volunteer in the community," noted Branham. "Amanda Koehn wanted to co-chair it with me because she's passionate about honoring veterans, too."

Frank and Pat Arnold will be coordinating the ceremony, which will be held immediately following the parade. The parade line-up is at 3 p.m., with check-in outside of the Franklin P. Norman City/County Community Center. The parade will begin at 3:30 p.m. and go around three sides of the Nevada Square (west, south, and east) and end on the east side, with the ceremony being set up there. "That way people, hopefully, can come on around and stay for that (ceremony)," added Branham.

"I've been pleasantly surprised at the interest," stated Branham. She noted that the goal of the parade is to bring all generations together to honor veterans. "I hope that daycare providers, families and school-kids come up just for that short time. I think it's important to teach our children and the younger generations the sacrifices that our veterans have made for us to experience what we get to enjoy in freedoms."

Branham added that the Nevada Eagles Auxiliary will be volunteering and helping with the parade. "They are going to help with hot chocolate and hot cider on the Square," she stated. "We've got somebody who has donated that."

In addition, Branham noted that the Nevada High School AFJROTC will be leading the parade with a colorguard, followed by the NHS band. Closing out the parade will be Faith Renewed Equine Services on horseback.

"By honoring the veterans, it's nice to see the connectivity within the community and the surrounding areas," she stated.

The theme of the parade is "Honoring our Veterans." For a full, comprehensive list of events taking place in observance of Veterans Day, see the Community Calendar on Page 2.

There will be trailers available for any veterans who would like to be on them and participate in the parade. They will need to just check in at the community center at 3 p.m., or if families want to drive and honor them in the parade in a car they are encouraged to do so with a sign acknowleding the veteran.

"I think it's going to be a great event," stated Branham, in closing. "It's nice to see the community come together. We tried to make sure that the time of the activity would not conflict with Nevada schools, Northeast Vernon County, Bronaugh, or Sheldon."

The deadline to submit an entry form for the parade is Nov. 9. For more information, call (417) 448-2730 or (417) 448-4529, or email Carol Branham at nevmopha@sbcglobal.net.

The parade entry form may also be found on the Nevada Daily Mail's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/NevadaDailyMail.