17th annual Bend Veterans Day parade set to roll
The 17th Annual Veterans Day parade will roll again through downtown Bend this Veterans Day, Friday November 11.
This year’s theme honors “The Military Order of the Purple Heart” representing about 40 local combat veterans that have been decorated with a Purple Heart medal. Veterans receiving the award are wounded by an instrument of war in the hands of the enemy.
“We are honored to be selected as the grand marshal. A Purple Heart is given to those who were wounded defending our nation, “said Darrel Coleman, Commander of MOPH, Central Oregon Chapter 551. Recipients of the Purple Heart medal will lead the procession honoring all veterans. The City of Bend, Redmond and La Pine are designated “Purple Heart Cities..”
Grand Marshal veterans riding in the parade will be Bob Maxwell, Darrel Coleman, Mark Wirges, Joe Gallagher, Tony Cox, Dale Thiel, George McCart, Tony Jermaczonak and Dick Tobiason, as well as Ralph Otto, 95, of Bend, a World War II veteran wounded in Germany who received two Purple Hearts.
Posthumous recipients represented are: U.S. Marine, Lance Corporal Randy L. Newman and U.S. Army Sgt. Zachary W. McBride.
The Bend Veterans Day Parade is the second-largest such parade in the state of Oregon, with more than 120 organizations and thousands of people participating.
The Civil Air Patrol High Desert Squadron plane will fly by at 11 a.m. The Rolling Thunder of the Oregon Veterans Motorcycle Association and the Patriot Guard Riders will kick off the parade, Honor Guards of the Bend Police Department and Deschutes County Sheriff’s office, Oregon Army National Guard military vehicles, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, Mountain View/Summit/La Pine combined High School marching bands and community businesses will march celebrating veterans and military service members.
ADA parking is designated in the City Hall parking lot on Wall Street. Parade route will proceed from NW Harmon Blvd – Newport – Wall Street – Franklin – Riverside Drive – Galveston and end at NW Harmon Street. These downtown streets will be taped off with “No Parking” signs during the hours of 7 a.m. – 2 p.m. on November 11.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1603 will host an Open House immediately following the parade. The public is invited to meet veterans. Refreshments will be served.
The Veterans Day Parade is sponsored by the Bend Chamber of Commerce. For more information contact the Chamber at 541.382-3221.
