Veterans Day Parade honors veterans

The American Legion Post No. 76 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1561 work together to make Veterans Day in Arlington special for Veterans and the community. They organize the Veterans Day Parade each year, followed by a free lunch for all Vets at the Legion Hall at 1 p.m.

November 5, 2008 11:00 am
The Ladies of the Veterans of Foreign Wars walk in Arlington’s Fourth of July Parade in the 1930s. They are in the block where the post office is now located.
The Ladies of the Veterans of Foreign Wars walk in Arlington’s Fourth of July Parade in the 1930s. They are in the block where the post office is now located.

The American Legion Post No. 76 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1561 work together to make Veterans Day in Arlington special for Veterans and the community. They organize the Veterans Day Parade each year, followed by a free lunch for all Vets at the Legion Hall at 1 p.m.

“It’s a pork roast dinner with all the trimmings,” said Jim Barron, a loyal organizer on behalf of the Legion and Veterans in general. (Friends and family of the Vets are also welcome to join in for lunch for just $5.)

“It’s a pretty good deal,” Barron said.

The parade includes the regulars, as many veterans they can round up, color guards from both the Legion and the VFW, the Boy Scouts and the Cub Scouts, and the Arlington High School Band, the drill team, and the US Air Force ROTC from AHS. If it’s pouring rain, don’t expect the band: the instruments do not fair wall in cold rain. Line-up begins 10:30 a.m. in the Frontier Bank parking lot at the north end of North Olympic Avenue in Arlington and the parade rolls at 11 a.m.

“We’ve got a few army vehicles coming too,” Barron said last week.

“It’s about the same as every year.”

“As long as I am standing up, I will be there,” said Harry Yost who broke a rib recently.

“It’s getting a little lonely,” he said, noting that two of his fellow World War II Vets died this year.

Special Veterans Day assemblies are planned at most schools to teach children to honor the veterans.

The Sargeant of Arms of the American Legion, Dave Lord is promoting especially an event at the Post Middle School, which is set to start 8 a.m. Friday, Nov. 7.

Most assemblies are set for Monday, Nov. 10, as Veterans Day on Nov. 11 is a school holiday.

• Haller Middle School — 9:30 a.m. Nov. 10

• Presidents Elementary School — 9:30 a.m. Nov. 10

• AHS — 1 p.m. Nov. 10

• Pioneer Elementary School at 1:15 p.m. Nov. 10

• Eagle Creek Elementary School — 2:45 p.m. Nov. 10

At Kent Prairie Elementary School, organizers are displaying US flags in the halls in honor of the day, and they are seeking flags from families and friends.

Another special event is planned by the Arlington Community Church, at 713 N. Talcott St. (in the Seventh Day Adventist church), where a special celebration for veterans service with stirring music is set for 11 a.m. Nov. 9.