A few months ago, I was asked what I thought about having a Veterans Day Parade on Nov. 9.

Let’s see, this is the final day of the Antique Forum, this is the final day of the Angels on the Bluff event at the cemetery, this is the date of the Rotary Club/Natchez Children’s Home Chili Cook-Off event, this is the Second Saturday for Downtown Development activities and this is the date of the Natchez Inc./Alcorn State University/MS Development Authority “The Possibilities Tour,” not to mention the events at Jefferson College.

So what a great day to have a parade to honor former and current members of our Armed Services.

One cannot say enough good things about our local veterans group that contributes so much to the moral fiber of our community.

People like Rodney Violette, commander of the newly established honor guard providing proper respect for veterans at funerals and graveside services, and Rickey Warren, who finds time to organize and carry out one of the few flag retirement ceremonies in the county.

Oscar Seyfarth is another veteran with a cause, Wreaths across America, providing families and friends of deceased veterans with that little extra sense of closure by placing wreaths on graves throughout our national and city cemeteries.

Nov. 9 will be a banner day for our community.

You can come meet, shop, have lunch at the chili cook-off event, tour downtown spaces, shop, watch the flag retirement ceremony and show your support and respect for our veterans by experiencing what looks to be an impressive parade at 6 p.m.

Thanks to Doug McCallister for so much time and effort bringing these great men and women together and creating this event for our Miss-Lou Region.

 

Walter Tipton is a member of the Natchez-Adams Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Development and Rotary Club.