Veterans Day Service, parade set for today

Veterans Day will be observed today since the holiday fell on a Sunday this year, and local activities will begin at 11 a.m. with the annual Veterans Day Service at the Garland County Veterans Memorial and Military Park, located at 118 Orange St., near Transportation Depot.

Arkansas Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin will be the guest speaker with Walt Thrasher, member of the Veterans Memorial Committee and Vietnam Veterans Organization, serving as master of ceremonies.

A fifth-generation Arkansan, Griffin is currently serving his first four-year term as lieutenant governor. In a statement issued Friday, Griffin said, "We set aside Veterans Day to honor the sacrifices of the brave men and women who have served or who are serving in our Armed Forces.

"As we celebrate Veterans Day, we must convey to the next generation of Americans the value we place on our veterans and their families for the sacrifices they make to protect the freedom we all enjoy. As a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army Reserve, my family and I know firsthand of their sacrifices, and I say thank you to my fellow veterans."

The names of new bricks and pavers added to the memorial will be announced during the ceremony.

The community's 2018 Veterans Day Parade will also be held today with the theme "Stand for the Flag." It 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. A rain date has been set for Tuesday. Motorists will need to seek an alternate route during street closure.

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," Steve Smith, chairman of the Veterans Day Parade committee, told The Sentinel-Record earlier.

Smith said the bands from all seven high schools in Garland County will be marching at the event along with the Lake Hamilton color guard and Arkadelphia High School ROTC. The Hot Springs High School East Lab will be filming the event and Teen Challenge members will be assisting with parking on Whittington Avenue.

U.S. Air Force veteran Dick Antoine will emcee the event along with local entertainer Tom Wilkins.

Local on 11/12/2018

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