The Flint Hills Veterans Coalition is honoring Vietnam veterans this year during their annual parade and celebration Friday, November 11th.The parade commences at 9:30 a.m. and will travel down Poyntz to City Park.
Coalition President Chuck Sexton says Retired Air Force Colonel and Vietnam prisoner of war Leroy Stutz will speak at City Hall immediately after the parade at The Ceremony of Honor.
Additionally, the Flint Hills Discovery Center will offer free admission for all gold star families, active duty and reserve military, veterans, and their families. There will also be a variety of patriotic displays across town offering the opportunity to learn more about Kansan involvement in war.
The Veterans’ Day parade held in Manhattan is the state’s largest celebration of service. It is sponsored by the Flint Hills Veterans Coalition offering the public the opportunity to show their support for those who serve. To conduct the parade the Flint Hills Veterans Coalition works in partnership with the Kansas State Army ROTC, Ft. Riley, USO, and other organizations.
While Veterans’ Day is now a day to honor our vets of all wars, the day originated as Armistice Day and marked the end of hostilities of World War I that occurred at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month.
President Wilson commemorated the first Armistice Day with these words:
“To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…”
Check out the images from last year’s parade below.
