Courtesy of Dallas Veterans Day Parade

The 11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour in 1918 marked an armistice until the Treaty of Versailles was signed. In 1926, a presidential proclamation made November 11 the official federal legal holiday commemorating Armistice Day. After getting through two more wars (World War II and the Korean War), more war veterans were created and in 1954, Armistice Day was changed to Veterans Day. There were some changes to the day and for a period of time, it was designated as being the fourth Monday in October but was changed back to November 11. Celebrate these brave soldiers this year with the following Veterans Day events.

Dallas Veterans Day Parade And Ceremony At City Hall
1500 Marilla St.
Dallas, TX 75201
(214) 670-3738
www.vetsdayindallas.org

Date: Nov. 11, 2013 at 11 a.m.

Congressman and POW Sam Johnson will give the “Oath of Enlistment Ceremony” to over 150 enlistees and serve as the featured speaker. This year’s event includes a wreath laying, the playing of “Taps,” a Mission Man Formation Flyover and Massing of the Colors will be done by area Dallas Independent School District high school JROTC cadets. Capt. Charles De Bellevue and Col. Bernard Talley will serve as grand marshals of this year’s parade themed “Honoring the Veterans and POWs of Vietnam.” The Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings, along with several members of the city council, will deliver greetings to the attendees. There are over 150 entries for the parade that will start at 11:20 a.m. at the former Reunion Arena and then go through Downtown Dallas, up Main Street, across Ervay Street and pass in front of City Hall.

Grand Prairie Veterans Day Ceremony
Veterans Memorial
925 Conover Drive
Grand Prairie, TX 75051
(972) 237-8100
www.grandfungp.com

Date: Nov. 11, 2013 at 9:30 a.m.

Lone Star Sports Corporation and GP Rotary Club are sponsoring 60 flag polls flying the American flag and each is dedicated to an individual or organization tied to the U.S. Armed Forces. A bagpiper will lead the color guard processional to start the ceremony. The National Anthem, the raising of the flag and the Pledge of Allegiance takes place as well. The Bluebonnet Chapter of the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) will lay a wreath during the ceremony which will later be on display at the library, a memorial granite column that lists the names of Grand Prairie residents that were killed during active service. In lieu of a speaker, Ret. Air Force Chaplain Col. Dr. Jerry Poteet will identify service members in the audience to speak. A brass band will play the service medley. A vintage aircraft flyover by the Commemorative Air Force in AT-6 airplanes will do the Missing Man Formation. There will be a 21-gun salute followed by a lone trumpeter that plays “Taps.” A recessional color guard closes the event. Boy Scouts Troop #507 will do a flag retirement ceremony. After the ceremony, a traditional American lunch of hot dogs, apple pie and lemonade will be provided and served by the local Rotary club. Free American flags and memorial trees are given out to attendees.

Courtsey of Dallas Veterans Day Parade

Tarrant County Veterans Day Parade
LaGrave Field
301 N.E. 6th St.
Ft. Worth, TX 76164
(817) 332-2287
www.tarrantcountyveteranscouncil.org

Date: Nov. 11, 2013 at 9:30 a.m.

The theme of this year’s parade is “Medics and Corpsmen Unsung Heroes.” Ret. S. Sgt. Mark E. Peak will serve as grand marshal. Tarrant County Schools ROTC will serve as honor guard. Seven school bands along with 3,500 Tarrant County ROTC, JROTC will march in the parade. The American Legion, American Legion Riders, the Disable American Veterans, The Veterans of Foreign Wars, The Purple Heart Association, The Fleet Reserve Association, The Tin Can Sailors, The Merchant Marines, The Ft. Worth Elks Lodge and The Military Order of World Wars will be in the parade motorcade. The parade will go through Sundance Square in Downtown Ft. Worth. At 11 a.m., The National Anthem followed by a prayer and the Sons of the American Revolution will ring a Liberty Bell replica and “Taps” will be played. The parade starts at LaGrave Field and runs through Downtown Fort Worth on Houston Street to Fifth Street, returns on Main Street through Sundance Square and finishes back at LaGrave Field.

Robin D. Everson is a native Chicagoan who resides in Dallas, Texas. Her appreciation for art, food, wine, people and places has helped her become a well-respected journalist. A life-long lover of education, Robin seeks to learn and
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