COVO takes reins of Bend Veterans Day Parade

Central Oregon Veterans Outreach, or COVO, is taking over organizing of the Bend Veterans Day Parade after the Bend Chamber of Commerce agreed to transfer all the responsibilities to the veterans organization.

Both organizations signed an agreement Monday that COVO would take over all the rights to the parade, as well as its planning, sponsors and benefits.

The Bend Chamber said they’ll continue to support and promote the parade for the community.

“Our goal is to make this transition as seamless as possible, Chamber CEO Katy Brooks said.

“The parade is well-vetted, we got the permitting process up and running, we got sponsorships. These are the things we can contribute (to) the Central Oregon veterans and help them through the transition years as they take over the parade and continue on this important community event.

J.W. Terry, the executive director of COVO, told NewsChannel 21 the parade will still happen, this year on Sunday, Nov. 11, and now they’re focused on securing sponsors for the event.

“These guys and girls have given a lot through the years and for me, our World War II guys are still around, we still have a group of them,” Terry said.

“We want to honor those, but we also want to honor the young veterans, too. It’s the time for the community to come out. Every year that I go there, there are new veterans that have tears streaming down their cheeks to see how the community comes out to support that Veterans Day parade.”

The change of hands for parade oversight comes nearly 20 years after Bend’s Veterans Day Parade was revived after years without one, thanks to veteran Mike Dolan, who bought a parade permit and walked down Wall Street holding a flag in 1999. It’s grown larger every year, becoming by some measures Oregon’s second-largest Veterans Day parade.

Officials said there are some sponsors already lined up for the parade but they will need more.

If you would like to help out you can contact COVO at (541) 383-2793 or visit https://covo-us.org/.

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PRESS RELEASE

Bend Veterans Day Parade Changes Hands

August 14, 2018 Bend, OR – Veterans Day Parade of Bend has changed hands with Central Oregon Veterans Outreach (COVO) now producing the annual event honoring our military veterans and service members.

The Parade is planned for November 11, 2018 at 11 am in downtown Bend. Yesterday Bend Chamber of Commerce CEO Katy Brooks turned over the remaining funds donated by the late Steve Esselstyn to pay 10 years of parade permits to JW Terry, Executive Director of COVO.

In July, the Chamber met with COVO about taking over the coordination of the parade and the handoff was finalized with a letter of agreement and the transfer of these funds. “We are committed to ensuring the annual Veterans Day Parade continues and will rely on past volunteers and sponsors for support,” said J.W. Terry, COVO, Executive Director.

Terry, a retired Navy Command Master Chief whose military career began with deployment to Vietnam and spanned 32 years, knows full well the importance this event holds for the community. “This patriotic event promotes COVO’s mission: Respect, support and advocacy for Veterans who have earned our gratitude for their service. “

In the short time remaining leading up to Veterans Day on November 11, COVO will seek sponsorships from local businesses to cover costs to produce the parade. “It’s a great way for the community to say “thank you” to our Veterans by donating funds to preserve our town’s parade and meet their needs,” said COVO Board President, retired Brigadier General Dennis Merrill.

In 2015 Steve Esselstyn, a Bend police officer and Veteran, wanted to ensure Bend never again forgot to honor our community’s Veterans. Esselstyn, who passed away in 2017, asked long-time parade planner Rabbine Harpell, owner of Azura Studio, to find an organization to administer his donation of $2,000 to pay the parade permit fee for 10 years.

Harpell passed the torch to the Bend Chamber, who agreed to organize the parade and hold Esselstyn’s donation. Harpell is continuing to support the parade by working now with COVO.

“COVO is honored to be working with the community to honor Steve’s wish and ensure the Veterans Day Parade continues to be annual celebration”, said Terry.

For information email Kathy Skidmore at covo@covo-us.org or go to www.covo-us.org.