Flags, families and thousands of veterans will line Main Street for the mile-long Veterans Day Parade at 11 a.m. Saturday.
The parade, one of the largest of its kind west of the Mississippi, celebrates its 50th year.
The parade features more than 200 entries and more than 6,000 parade participants, showcasing American strength of will, endurance and purpose. The parade includes more than 30 high school marching bands, honor guards, veterans groups and military vehicles.
The National Veterans Day Committee and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs have once again selected Auburn as one of the few regional sites for Veterans Day observance this year
Banner day
To honor and celebrate the 50th anniversary of parade, new street pole banners line downtown.
The “Our Heroes, Our Parade” banners are on display on Main Street, from Auburn Way South to B Street Northeast and along Division Street from Main Street to Third Street Southeast.
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LINEUP OF EVENTS
50th Anniversary of Auburn’s Veterans Day Parade: 11 a.m. Nov. 7, Main Street, downtown Auburn. The parade features more than 200 entries and nearly 6,000 parade participants, showcasing American strength of will, endurance and purpose. The parade will feature more than 30 marching bands, as well as local Junior ROTC units, honor guards, military units and antique military vehicles. Spectators will also enjoy the procession of veteran units, drill teams, community and scouting groups, intermixed with floats, antique and classic cars and other entries of interest. Spectators are advised to arrive early.
ALSO ON NOV. 7:
Auburn American Legion Post #78 Breakfast: 7-9:30 a.m., Auburn Senior Activity Center,| 808 Ninth St. SE. $6 per person and includes pancakes, eggs, ham and juice or coffee.
SERVICE INK, Veterans’ Tattoos and Their Stories: 8-10 a.m., White River Valley Museum, 918 H St. SE. Exhibit honors veterans and provides a setting for appreciation, discussion and celebration of the vigor and storytelling inherent in the art of tattooing. The exhibit features photographs of and the stories behind service related tattoos from local active and ex-military members and their families. Free Museum entrance.
Static Display & Exhibit Showcase: 9 a.m.-2 p.m., South Division Street between Main St. and Second St. SE. Displays, booths, food, military equipment, military vehicles and veterans and military information.
Remembrance Ceremony and Lighting of the Flame: 9:45-10:15 a.m., Veterans Memorial Park, 411 E St. NE. The flame is lit and guarded through the night at the park,. Wreath placement, rifle salute, prayers and taps encompass a special ceremony held just prior to the parade.
Veterans Day High School Marching Band Competition: 1-10 p.m., Auburn Memorial Stadium, 801 Fourth St. NE. State’s largest marching band and field competition, hosted by the Auburn High School Band & Choir Parents, showcases more than 30 bands compete in the field competition. Awards and full band retreat at 9:30 p.m. Event admission is charged at the door.
Auburn Noon Lions Veterans Day Luncheon: 1:30-3 p.m., Truitt Building, Rainier Room,102 W. Main St. Co-sponsored by the Auburn Noon Lions Club and the City of Auburn. Pre-reservations are $15/person and includes pork spare ribs, barbeque chicken, barbeque beans, potato salad, cole slaw, rolls and beverages. The program honors veterans, with special recognition given to dignitaries in attendance. The Governor’s Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee’s Outstanding Veterans will be honored, along with other special presentations. For additional information or to reserve seats by phone, call 253-931-3043.
Theatrical Presentation, Letters Aloud, From The Front Lines: 6:30 p.m., Auburn Avenue Theater, 10 Aub. Ave. Honoring country’s past and present servicemen and women by presenting their powerful perspectives and heartfelt thoughts via the letters to and from the people they care about. Tickets: $15-$17 (special veteran discount $10)
FILM SCREENINGS, PRESENTATIONS
Auburn Avenue Theater, 10 Auburn Ave. Free.
Free Veterans Got Talent: 7 p.m. Nov. 4. Coordinated in conjunction with The Mission Continues. An evening of reverence and revelry. RSVP on Facebook. Got talent? Email vetsgottalent@gmail.com.
“Platoon”: 2 p.m. Nov. 5. A young recruit in Vietnam faces a moral crisis when confronted with the horrors of war and the duality of man. Rated R.
“Lone Survivor”: 2 p.m. Nov. 6. This 2013 movie follows Marcus Luttrell, a Navy Seal, and his team who set out on a mission to capture or kill notorious Taliban leader Ahmad Shah. Rated R.
Free Film Screening, “Max”: 2 p.m., Nov. 8. A dog that helped Marines in Afghanistan returns to the U.S. and is adopted by his handler’s family after suffering a traumatic experience. (Family friendly).
OTHER PROGRAMS
Free Vietnam Veterans Social: 9:30-11:30 a.m. Nov. 6, White River Valley Museum, 918 H St. SE. Enjoy a meet and greet with Retired U.S. Army Brigadier General, Dr. John P. Rose. Come mix, meet and mingle with fellow Vietnam Veterans. Rose is a senior representative for the Vietnam War Commemoration and will present special, ‘Congress-approved’ pins to Vietnam Veterans in attendance. Light refreshments will be served. Free event; no registration required.
Veterans Day Assembly/Chapel: 11 a.m. Nov. 9, Grace Community Church, 1320 Auburn Way S., Auburn. Rainier Christian Schools honor veterans with a special service.Veterans, families, and friends are invited to this service, where festivities include the 1st Corps Band, Joint Base Lewis-McChord Honor Guard, and the keynote speaker, Chaplain Victor Langford.
