Most parades have a grand marshal who rides up front in a shiny convertible, waving to the crowd.

One car just wouldn’t do for the Veterans Day parade down Hay Street scheduled Saturday, Nov. 10. By the time parade officials finished counting, they needed six cars.

In honor of the 100th anniversary of the Army Nurse Corps, the parade up Hay Street will include 40 military nurses from all service branches.

Veterans dating back to World War II will be riding in convertibles, jeeps, even a Humvee when the parade starts at 11 a.m. Behind them will stretch the largest Veterans Day parade in at least 40 years.

"Every year, it gets a little bigger, a little nicer," said Carolyn Culbreth. As one of the volunteers at the Cumberland County Veterans Council, she’s been helping put together the parade -- and selling a lot of T-shirts to help defray the cost.

"We’ll have plenty more for folks who come to the parade," she added with a laugh. "It’d be nice to see a lot of the shirts saluting the nurse corps out along the parade route."

More than 60 groups will take part in the parade, which runs from the corner of Hay Street and Bragg Boulevard, past the Market House and down behind the Cumberland County Courthouse. Familiar groups will be the Shriner go-carts and bands, including the 82nd Airborne Division marching band. The parade emcee will be TV personality Gilbert Baez, a veteran of the Army Rangers.

This year’s parade will have some unusual exhibits, including a prisoner-of-war tiger cage from the Vietnam War, towed helicopters, Jeeps and artillery and soldiers dressed in period costume from several wars. "People who haven’t been to a Veterans Day parade should come to this one," said Tom Stanley, a member of the Veterans Council and the Rolling Thunder motorcycle group, who will also take part right behind the military nurses.

"There were several years the city didn’t have a parade, but it’s back and bigger than ever."

Fayetteville Veteran’s Day Parade
When: Saturday, Nov. 10, 11 a.m. The parade will be shown on WKFT-TV, Channel 40, beginning at 11 a.m. Where: Hay Street from Bragg Boulevard to the county courthouse. Admission: No charge.

The parade was restored in 1998, after a 35-year absence, to honor the memory of those who served in the armed forces and defended the country. Events this year include a VIP reception and the unveiling of a huge POW-MIA flag brought for the parade. It will be hoisted by a portable crane just off the parade route.

The parade is more than a memorial, Culbreth said.

"I think it can be as much educational as a memorial," she said. "There are kids in this town who don’t know what ‘POW-MIA’ means. They aren’t taught about the sacrifices by people to keep us free.

"Especially this year, with all that’s going on, this can be a great learning experience. There will be a lot of great stuff. Elizabeth Dole will be there, the POW flag, too.

"But the neatest thing is watching the young soldiers from our present military stop and salute the veterans who went before them. There’s no way to describe the lasting impression that makes on you."

The downtown streets will be blocked Saturday morning. Parking will be available in central lots, but spectators should arrive early.

"It’s going to be quite a show," Culbreth said."

Chick Jacobs can be reached at (910) 486-3515 or jacobsc@fayettevillenc.com

SOURCE: Fayetteville Observer - 9 November 2001 - Weekender