Veterans Day is this Saturday, November 11th.
Several events are held in North Texas, including a parade in DFW that honors the men and women who have served our country.
tarrant county
NBC 5 is proud to sponsor the annual Tarrant County Veterans Day Parade in Fort Worth on Saturday morning.
The weather is expected to be perfect for the parade, with temperatures cool and no chance of rain.
The parade is in its 104th year and is one of the longest running parades in the entire state.
We depart from Panther Island at 11 a.m., traveling along Forest Park Boulevard and back again. NBC 5's Veterans Network will have a float featuring some of the great employees of NBC 5 and Telemundo 39.
Organizers are encouraging families to be at the viewing site by 9:30 a.m., as roads in the area will begin closing at 10 a.m. before the parade begins at 11 a.m.
Retired Colonel Joseph Campbell will be the marshal for this year's parade. It also features marching bands from seven local schools, a military band from Oklahoma, up to 4,000 JROTC cadets, the 1st Cavalry Mounted Division from Fort Cavazos, and F-18 attack from Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base. Military flights of fighter jets are also planned. Fort Worth.
Click here for more information on the parade.
This year's theme is Salute to the TCU Warriors in honor of Texas Christian University's 150th anniversary. This theme honors the university's military heritage and programs and one of its most famous alumni, Medal of Honor recipient Maj. Horace S. Carswell Jr.
He was killed in action in World War II and is the namesake of the former Carswell Air Force Base in Fort Worth, now a joint reserve base.
The Tarrant County Veterans Council, which has hosted the parade annually since the early 1970s, said Veterans Day is an opportunity to teach the next generation about these legacies and sacrifices that should never be forgotten.
“There are kids who have no idea what the Vietnam War was, what Vietnam was, what Korea was. What happened in World War II? They read cartoons. They watch books, magazines, comics, video games. It doesn't matter,” said Dan Zmrochek, president of the Tarrant County Veterans Council and a Vietnam War veteran himself. “My generation needs to ensure that the next generation never forgets the sacrifices they made to do the work they do.”
dallas county
Thursday's Dallas Veterans Day Parade has been canceled, but another parade will be held in south Dallas on Saturday. The parade, hosted by Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Carolyn King Arnold for District 4, will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The route begins at Cedar Crest Cathedral on Illinois Avenue and ends at the Veterans Affairs Hospital.
At Farmers Branch, the city will host a ceremony and celebration featuring the Arada Brass Band, military exhibits, caricature artists, face painting, a photo booth and veterans service groups. Free hot dog or hamburger lunch available while supplies last. The event will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Farmers Branch Community Recreation Center, 14050 Heartside Place.
In Grand Prairie, a ceremony and free lunch will be provided by the Rotary Club of Grand Prairie at the Veterans Park Event Center. The event begins at 9:30 a.m. Saturday.
Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery will host an event Saturday that will feature a keynote address by retired U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Craig Timberlake, a performance by the Midlothian High School Choir, and a color presentation by Naval Air Station Fort Worth. Joint Reserve Base Color Guard. There will also be a high-flying flight and a gun salute.The event starts at 11am
Commemorative Air Force is holding its Aviation Discovery Festival through Sunday at Dallas Executive Airport. Click here for more information.
collin county
The city of Frisco also hosts a Veterans Community Parade with floats, marching bands, and other organizations to honor veterans. The theme is “The Star-Spangled Banner and Service.” The parade begins at Toyota Stadium, heads east down Main Street and ends at North County Road. The parade will also be broadcast live. The free event begins at 10 a.m. Saturday on Main Street in historic downtown Frisco. Click here for more information.
A traditional ceremony, including a wreath laying, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Veterans Memorial Park in McKinney to honor all veterans.
The Rotary Club of Plano East welcomes the public to view more than 1,000 American flags that honor veterans and first responders each year. On Saturday, patriotic music will be performed by the Salvation Army Band, Plano Children's Choir and Plano Citizens Choir. Patriot Paw service dogs will also be on site, and there will be JROTC training, a flag retirement ceremony and a gun salute in the evening. The event will be held at Oak Point Park's Red Tail Pavilion.
denton county
The Colony will host an all-day festival on Saturday, featuring live music, a carnival, a car show, and a vendor expo. There will be a Veterans Day ceremony at 11 a.m. and a free fireworks show at 8 p.m. Parking is free.
Roanoke will hold a veterans parade, car show and cook-off Saturday at City Hall Plaza on South Oak Street from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will include a classic car show, free activities for kids, a culinary showdown between local Roanoke restaurants with free food samples, live music, a Veterans Day ceremony, and a parade.
