SAN ANGELO, TX - In anticipation of Veterans Day next week, San Angelo will be hosting numerous events to honor those who have fought for our country. Celebrations will begin this coming weekend.
On Saturday, November 5, the All Veterans Council of Tom Green County (AVCTGC) will be hosting its 13th Annual Veterans Day Parade. The parade will begin at 11:00 a.m. at the crossing of Concho and Irving Street in downtown San Angelo. Laura Serrano, President of AVCTGC, said the motto of this year’s parade is “Because of the Brave.”
Approximately 50 floats will be participating, and Serrano underscored how much she enjoys having particular “veteran organization groups participate in the event.”
Goodfellow Airforce Base will also be represented in Saturday’s parade with Marine Corps, Army, Navy, and Air Force soldiers marching in the parade. Col. Michael Downs will make a special appearance as well. Serrano said she looks forward to Goodfellow’s participation and support as “they make the parade that much bigger.” She also emphasized the strong ties that exist between Goodfellow Airforce Base and the San Angelo community.
One of the parade’s highlights this year will be the VIP section. The VIP section will accommodate veterans who have served in any war since WWII.
“We do show our patriotism, and we do show reverence to those who have sacrificed greatly, so, as a part of our Veterans Parade, we also have our VIPs,” Serrano explained.
This year, something new has been added to the annual AVCTGC Parade. Float and parade entries will be eligible for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place trophies for being the most patriotic float or entry.
The parade is scheduled to last approximately one hour. Shortly after the parade, the Elks Lodge will be serving a free luncheon to veterans and their families until 3 p.m. The Elks Lodge will also provide free legal council to any veteran who may need it. Additionally, the legal council will be provided by volunteer lawyers who want to help their veterans, Serrano said. Elks Lodge is located at 2121 South Chadbourne.
Other events happening this weekend are the Fairmount Cemetery Flag Planting, which will be hosted by the Friends of Fairmount Cemetery. The event will begin at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 6. Volunteers will place more than 1,400 American flags on the graves of the veterans buried on Fairmount Cemetery’s 57 acres.
Furthermore, on November 11, on Veterans Day, the Friends of Fairmount Cemetery will be hosting a Veterans Day celebration at the Fairmount Cemetery. The event will begin at 11 a.m. According to the San Angelo City Calendar, the ceremony will feature “bagpiper Christopher Morgan; a cannon and Buffalo Soldier re-enactors from Fort Concho; Sons of the Confederate Veterans; the Veterans Council Honor Guard; a presence from Goodfellow AFB and local VFWs; and local dignitaries.” Col. Michael L. Downs will be the event’s keynote speaker.
Also on Veterans Day, Susan Williams, Director of Affiliated Military and Veteran Services at Angelo State University, will hold a Vietnam veteran pinning ceremony at 11 a.m. to "honor those Vietnam veterans with the Vietnam commemorative Lapel Pin." Any Vietnam veteran who served "at any branch of service during that time frame, and during that time frame [of the Vietnam war]," is eligible to be pinned, Serrano said.
All events mentioned are free and open to the public.
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