Athens residents and students will come together to honor veterans in the annual Athens Veterans Day Parade starting at 10 a.m. Wednesday.
This year’s Athens Veterans Day Parade on Wednesday morning will feature both student bands and local veterans.
The parade, scheduled to start at 10 a.m., will begin on Morris Avenue, continue to Carpenter Street and Court Street and end at the Athens Civil War Monument on College Green, Athens Mayor Paul Wiehl said.
Wiehl said he will be in attendance and is scheduled to give a speech at the monument at 11 a.m.
Wiehl said the shutting down of Court Street should not be an issue this year, as it has not caused any problems in the past.
Nancy Brown, parade secretary and president of the local veterans’ organization, American Legion Post 21, said attendees should expect a variety of different paraders.
The Ohio University's Marching 110, along with bands from Athens High School and Alexander High School, will participate in the parade.
Brown said the OU Army ROTC will also be participating and that the parade will be led by two World War II veterans who will serve as parade marshals.
“We also have queens from different places like Corning and the Parade of the Hills Festival,” Brown said. “The Red Cross will even have something in it.”
Fire trucks from Athens, Albany, The Plains and the Richland area will also be in the parade.
Brown added that a number of members from veteran organizations, such as the American Legion and AMVETS, will be in attendance, as well.
Tom Smith, immediate department commander for the AMVETS of Athens, will be participating in tomorrow’s festivities. Smith said he will be laying a wreath at the Civil War Monument.
“We will have members participating on motorcycles, in vehicles, on floats and walking,” Smith said. “It’s important that we remember to thank the veterans.”
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