FORT WALTON BEACH — Those attending the next parade along Eglin Parkway will trade in the usual beads, trinkets and candy for the red, white and blue of the American flag.
The Parade of Heroes on April 20 will honor veterans and current military members. The public is encouraged to come out to cheer and wave flags as those who have given their service march through town.
“I don’t know if there’s ever been a true military parade in celebration of all the armed forces in Northwest Florida,” said parade organizer and veteran Michael Taz WrightReynolds. “We want to show our respect and pay tribute to our military and the fighting men and women who serve our country.”
The grand marshals of the parade will be the surviving Doolittle Raiders, the World War II heroes who will be in town for their 71st and final reunion.
All veterans and active-duty military are encouraged to participate. The Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce, which is organizing the parade, will have transportation available for those in need.
Anyone wishing to participate is encouraged to contact the chamber at 244-8191.
Participants will line up outside the Okaloosa County School District headquarters on First Street starting at 9 a.m. The parade will kick off at 11.
Units from local military bases already have confirmed that they will attend, said Rachelle Graves, coordinator for the Doolittle Raider reunion.
The Emerald Coast Wounded Warriors and Patriot Guard will participate, as will the Fort Walton Beach High School marching band and the Junior ROTC, according to organizers.
WrightReynolds said he hopes to get every Medal of Honor recipient in the area to be in the parade. Transportation will be provided. Medal of Honor recipients should contact the chamber to confirm their participation.
Beach Community Bank, the main sponsor for the Doolittle Reunion, will provide thousands of American flags to spectators.
Many people from Northwest Florida have served in the 10-plus years the United States has been at war in Iraq and Afghanistan, WrightReynolds noted. Some have lost lives or limbs, or know someone who has.
The military deserves to see how much the community appreciates their sacrifices, he said.
“The Doolittle Raiders changed the morale of the United States with the bombing of Japan after Pearl Harbor,” Graves said. “In a similar vein, we’re hoping that this parade enhances the morale of the military in our community.”
WANT TO PARTICIPATE? Anyone wishing to be in the parade should contact the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce at 244-8191.
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Lauren Sage Reinlie at 850-315-4443 or lreinlie@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @LaurenRnwfdn.