Veterans parade could be biggest yet

This year’s Veteran’s Day parade should see a record number of entries, an organizer said.

“We already have 269 and that’s not counting late entries,” Sherry Wright, organizer, said at the end of October.

Last year’s parade had about 170 entries, Wright, who began organizing the parade in 2000, said.

The parade had about 30 entries when the century started and increased by 50 in 2001. Since then, about 10 to 20 more entries have been added each year, she said.

“It’s really taken off,” Wright said.

The Patriot Guard will be the grand marshals of this year’s parade. Britt Peters, Patriot Guard member, said he expects 100 or more Patriot Guard members from across the state to ride in the parade.

Peters, and his wife, Samantha, first rode in the parade four years ago. Both their fathers were veterans and her brother was serving in Iraq, he said.

“My wife and I were looking for something to do to support the soldiers, not necessarily the war,” Peters said.

“It’s the least we can do. Without the soldiers, we wouldn’t have the freedom to have a parade,” he said.

Although they are members of the Patriot Guard, they rode as Bikers for Vets in the parade. The group’s parade presence increased from eight motorcycles and a truck the first year to about 50 motorcycles last year, he said.

The parade will begin at 10:45 a.m. Saturday at Fifth and Main streets, Ottawa, and proceed along Main Street to Forest Park, 518 W. Forest St., Ottawa.

This year’s military re-enactment will feature a Civil War battle and will begin about 1 p.m. Saturday at Forest Park, Wright said.

Opening ceremonies will be 6:30 p.m. Friday at Forest Park. The Healing Field of Flags will return to Ottawa and more than 700 flags will be on display at the men’s softball diamond at Forest Park. The flags will be on display from Friday through Tuesday for public viewing.

Other area activities include:

• The Richmond Community Museum, Central Avenue and Baldwin Street, will be host of veterans from all years, wars and conflicts and service branches from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday.

Pat Vining, museum board member, said that it is a time for veterans to share experiences.

• The Garnett VFW Post 6397 will have a Veterans Day program 11 a.m. Tuesday at Anderson County Jr.-Sr. High School, 100 W. K-31, Garnett. Maj. Peter Els and Maj. Dan Band, both of Fort Leavenworth, will be the speakers, Clarence Herman, post commander, said.

Both majors also will speak at noon Tuesday at a luncheon at the post, Crystal Lake, Garnett, he said.