'Stand for the Flag' is theme for Veterans Day Parade

Calhoun
Calhoun

The community's 2018 Veterans Day Parade is set for Nov. 12 with the theme "Stand for the Flag," and the parade chairman said they are still looking for floats and other participants who want to join in.

"I really want to encourage floats, anything that builds up our veterans," Steve Smith, chairman of the Veterans Day Parade committee, said Tuesday, noting they have already got confirmation the bands from all seven high schools in Garland County will be marching at the event. "We're thrilled about that."

The parade is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. at the junction of Whittington and Park avenues and will travel down Central Avenue to Olive Street. By presidential proclamation, Veterans Day is being observed on Monday, Nov. 12, since the actual date fell on a Sunday. A rain date of Tuesday, Nov. 13, has been set.

The grand marshal for this year's parade is retired Lt. Col. Joe Calhoun, who served in Germany, Vietnam, Korea and the United States over a 24-year career with the U.S. Army. "He's the real deal and a heck of a nice guy," Smith said.

Born and raised in Arkadelphia, Calhoun later moved to Grant County, graduating from Prattsville High School in 1964. He was attending Ouachita Baptist University on a basketball scholarship when he was drafted into the Army in 1967. He received his officer commission on 1968, retiring in 1990 as a lieutenant colonel and moving back to Arkansas in 1992.

During his career, Calhoun was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, Senior Aviator Badge, Airborne Jump Wings, two Legion of Merits, two Meritorious Service medals, three Bronze Stars with a V, ArCom with a V and two Purple Hearts.

Preceding the parade, a free spaghetti dinner and dance will be held at Elks Lodge 380, 132 Abbott Place, on Saturday, Nov. 10. Dinner will be served from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and the dance with a band will follow at 7 p.m. Veterans are encouraged to wear their military uniforms.

"We've got entries coming in every day," Smith said of the parade, noting they had about 20 as of Tuesday. In addition to the area school bands, the Lake Hamilton color guard and Arkadelphia High School ROTC will be participating and the Hot Springs High School East Lab will be filming the event.

Teen Challenge members will be assisting with parking on Whittington Avenue. "That's going to be real helpful because this will be after the time change so it will be dark by the time of the parade," he said.

U.S. Air Force veteran Dick Antoine will emcee the event along with local personality Tom Wilkins. "They will be doing their thing at the viewing stand," Smith said.

There is no entry fee to participate in the parade, which is supported by The Sentinel-Record, KLAZ, Hot Springs Mall, Hot Springs Elks Lodge 380, Hot Springs Emblem Club 194, KZNG and US Radio stations and by donations and services from area veteran groups, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars, A.B.A.T.E., the Disabled American Veterans, Air Force Association and others.

Local on 11/02/2018

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