The Beaufort County Office of Veterans Affairs hopes residents will turn out in good numbers on Veterans Day, Friday, November 11 and show their support for our retired and active duty military.
Edward Ray, Beaufort County Veterans Affairs Officer, said small tributes like attending the parade and ceremony go a long way in showing appreciation. “Our Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen deserve a great deal of appreciation for preserving our freedom and our American way of life. The gratitude of our citizens means a lot to them.”
Sgt. Major Carl R. Green, USMC, (Ret.), a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom was selected parade grand marshal and Brigadier General Gen. Lori Reynolds, USMC, Commanding General, MCRD/ERR, Parris Island, will be the keynote speaker at the 11 a.m. ceremony at Beaufort’s National Cemetery, 1601 Boundary Street.
The parade begins at 9:30 a.m. and will follow the downtown Beaufort parade route which begins at Rogers Street near the national cemetery, moves along Boundary Street toward downtown, turns right onto Bay Street, right onto Bladen St. and back to the cemetery.
The Whale Branch Early College High School Band will perform in both the parade and the ceremony. Other participants include several area high school bands and the color guards of each branch of the service along with marching military personnel. In addition, there will be participation from all local veterans service organizations and ladies auxiliaries. .
Various local business, school groups, civic organizations and fire departments will also participate as will state and local elected officials, the Water Festival Pirettes and the Patriot Guard Riders. A reception has been scheduled immediately following the ceremony at the AMVETS Post #70, 1831 Ribaut Road, Port Royal.