Salute to Veterans program and parade slated for Sunday
Nov. 1—Downtown will be bursting with red, white and blue on Sunday afternoon as the Daviess County Historical Society hosts its annual Salute to Veterans and veterans parade.
"We are really excited to host our Salute to Veterans and our annual veterans parade on Sunday afternoon," said Linda Cornelius who has organized the two events since their inception around seven years ago. "As always, the program, which will be at the Daviess County Museum, 212 E. Main, and the parade are both free to take part in."
Guest speaker for the veterans program that starts at 2 p.m. will be Roger Callahan, a North Daviess graduate who went on to the United States Naval Academy where he earned a degree in electrical engineering. After graduating from the academy, Callahan was commissioned as an ensign and was selected for submarine warfare. He then completed Navy Nuclear Power School and nuclear until training in South Carolina.
Callahan completed two Western Pacific independent operation deployments and multiple fleet exercises in Hawaii and California. In 2007, he transferred to Submarine Squadron in Point Lom, California, where he deployed to Joint Crew Composite Squadron as an individual augmentee to supplement electronic warfare missions for Army units in Iraq.
While serving in Iraq, Callahan, who was stationed northwest of Baghdad, coordinated airborne electromagnetic warfare effects and maintained electronic countermeasures to combat improvised explosive device threats.
Callahan completed his service as a Lieutenant in the Operations Department where he served as the torpedo weapons retriever office in charge. He and his wife, Adriane and their children live in Odon. Callahan now works at Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division and is involved in coaching youth sports, scouts, church and other civic events. He also serves on the North Daviess Community Schools Board.
After the veterans program, the community is invited to line Main Street to catch the annual parade that this year will also feature patriotically decorated golf carts in addition to youth box floats and other entries.
"Line up for the parade will begin at the Washington Carnegie Public Library at 3 p.m.," said Cornelius. "New this year will be the adult golf cart decorating contest. Carts must be decorated in a patriotic theme and we have three cash prizes."
The box float contest, which requires entries to create a float out of a box that can be worn or pulled on a wagon, is open to youth in first through 12th grades. Cash prizes will also be available for those entrants.
"If you look up box float online, you will see all kinds of ideas," said Cornelius, adding more traditional parade entries are also accepted.
For more information on the Salute to Veterans events Sunday, contact Cornelius at 812-617-5300.
