Haleyville Veterans Parade November 7

HALEYVILLE - Former U.S. President Ronald Reagan once said that freedom is new more than one generation away from being lost.
 Haleyville’s annual Veterans parade, program and lunch on Saturday, Nov. 7, will be different this year, with the city of Haleyville now sponsoring the events, including a new patriotic parade float contest, with a patriotic theme encouraged for every entry.
Organizers are hoping to increase interest and participation in the parade, as well as a renewed sense of patriotism through the city for veterans, which they say has dwindled through the years.
Parade line up will begin at 9 a.m. at Haleyville High School, with the parade led by a unit driven by Haleyville Police Chief Rodney Lewis, followed by the Haleyville High School band under the direction of Judd Williams.
Veterans from all branches of service, as well as churches, civic groups and other organizations are encouraged to have entries in the parade, but each entry needs to have a patriotic theme, stressed  Bryan Lawler, commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4543, as well as a member of American Legion Post 33.
Those in the parade should be  downtown at the veterans monuments located in front of CVS Pharmacy facing Highway 13, by 9:30 a.m., Lawler said.
 The Laying of  the Wreath ceremony will take place at 9:45 a.m. complete with prayer, the playing of  “Taps”  on trumpet and special remarks by Haleyville Mayor Dr. Ray Boshell, organizers said.
The parade will begin from the monuments at 10 a.m. and will go through the downtown area, according to organizers.
“You don’t have to be in any specific group if you want to participate,” Lawler advised. “Just be there at 9 o’clock to start the lineup.”
Support for veterans is being encouraged, not only by having an entry for  the parade but by encouraging the public to turn out with their patriotic banners, American flags, signs and giving cheers and tributes to the parade, especially the veterans that pass by, organizers said.

City of Haleyville providing cost for veterans lunch

The veterans events on November 7, will be different than in previous years, with the city of Haleyville playing a role in helping to organize it, along with the VFW and American Legion, explained Joel Carranza, commander of American legion Post 33, who is also a VFW Post 4543 member.
“In previous years, this was always the American Legion Post 33 Veterans Day Parade,” Carranza explained. “Starting this year, the city of Haleyville is going to be more involved.  It is now going to be considered the Haleyville Veterans Day Parade.
“The City of Haleyville is going to be providing the food this year,”  Carranza said.
The city is paying for all of the food that will feed veterans and their families at 11:30 a.m. that day at the American Legion building, organizers pointed out.
The meal will be provided by Shawn Rushing  and will include chicken and pulled pork, baked beans, slaw and potato salad. Drinks and desserts will be provided by the American Legion Auxiliary, organizers added.
“It gets the city of Haleyville more involved, which is important,” Carranza pointed out. 
“Veterans Day is very important for the community and it’s something that the city of Haleyville wanted to do. They approached us and we’re all for it,” he added.
 “Our Veterans Day parade is more than a tradition,” Boshell stated. “It’s an opportunity for Haleyville to come together and honor the men and women who have served our country and helped protect the freedoms we enjoy every day.”

Patriotic parade float contest planned

Representatives of both the American Legion and VFW are encouraging public attendance and parade participation, that has waned through the years, they said.
One of the ways to get younger people more interested in the parade this year is to have a contest for most patriotic float, noted Sgt. 1st Class Candi Brown, Army National Guard recruiter for Alabama.
“I have seen (interest) take a dip in the younger ages of children here lately,” Brown admitted.  “I am hoping that maybe we can get it going back up.”
Brown spends time in schools talking to students about how the National Guard can help their futures, as well as build their interest in the parade and programs on November 7, she indicated.
“Any kind of group within the high school can put on their own little part in the parade,” Brown suggested. “Maybe if they are kids of veterans or grandkids of veterans, they can do that, too.
“They can send a flyer out through their email on who would be interested in participating in a competition for the best float for the Veterans Day parade,” Brown emphasized.
“This parade has got to be like all other parades, except it is more patriotic,” Lawler emphasized. “People need to come out and support it. They need to bring their flags out. Wave their flags as people go by.
“If they have family members who are veterans, they can hold signs up with their names on it,” Lawler continued. “We need more people to come out and participate because everyone has veterans in their family background.
“Haleyville has a long line of veterans, but we don’t have anyone that comes out to supports the parade,” Lawler emphasized. “I don’t really understand that.
“We need to have people, old and young, come out and support the veterans because if you are not teaching your kids to be patriotic, who is? 
“It’s up to the parents to bring their kids out and support stuff like this, to teach their kids about patriotism,” Lawler pointed out.
All parade floats need to be patriotic in theme or veteran oriented, according to organizers.