Veterans Parade brings young and old together

Clarice Doyle, Claremore Daily Progress, Okla.
·1 min read

Nov. 15—Veterans and current enlistees were honored Friday morning, Nov. 10, as the annual Veterans Day Parade got underway at 11:11 and traveled east along Will Rogers Boulevard through downtown Claremore.

Among the youngest service members in attendance was Pfc. Robert Hamby. The oldest was Sgt. Buck Mullen, a War World II veteran who served as one of the grand marshals for the event.

Hamby chose to stand on the corner of Cherokee and Will Rogers and watch the parade. He completed basic training three weeks ago and was attending the parade with his friend, Brooklyn Cordray.

Hamby, a Claremore High School alumnus, is now serving with the Bravo Combat Unit of the Oklahoma National Guard.

Sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars parade committee, the event had representation from all branches of the Armed Forces, with members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Disabled American Veterans and the American Legion all on hand.

Hundreds of area school children were in the parade and watching it. Vehicles — old and new, big and small, two-, three- and four-wheeled — were driven in the parade, many carrying honored veterans for the day. Marching bands from Claremore, Sequoyah and Justus-Tiawah played patriotic music and kept a beat going all along the parade route. Even a pickup load of senior musicians and a few dogs were seen.

The next parade will be Dec. 9 when the Chamber of Commerce hosts the "All Aboard" Christmas parade. Entries are encouraged to incorporate "trains" into their floats as a nod to the city's many train crossings.

To register for the Christmas parade, visit claremore.org.