That is Porterville. That is America.
Nothing demonstrates what Porterville and America is all about greater than the nation’s longest working Veterans Day Parade held proper right here on this neighborhood. The 104th annual Porterville Veterans Parade introduced by American Legion Publish 20 will happen in downtown Porterville, starting at 10 a.m. Friday, November 11, Veterans Day.
As of Tuesday afternoon there have been 107 entries on this yr’s parade. They are going to embody this yr’s Grand Marshal, Glen Lilly of American Legion Publish 20, who will preside over the parade and the Buck Shaffer Band-A-Rama that can observe the parade.
The Band-A-Rama started by legendary Porterville Excessive band director Buck Shaffer shall be held at Rankin Stadium at 2 p.m.
The parade may even function the Veterans Homecoming Queen/Miss Porterville Briar Rose Tillery and her court docket, Princess Kambria Rohrbach, First Attendant Janessa Alba, Second Attendant Mariah Ruiz and Third Attendant Mia Daugherty.
The 107 entries is a big improve over the variety of entries final yr through which the parade returned after not being held in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Very happy,” mentioned Veterans Homecoming Committee Chair Bob Atchley about this yr’s variety of entries. “Popping out of COVID in our second yr to have 107 entries I am simply so happy with all of the individuals coming ahead and getting into the parade.”
Atchley mentioned it means so much to him and American Legion Publish 20 members to have the ability to placed on the parade. “It is a massive honor,” he mentioned. “It simply means so much to me.”
This yr’s parade as was final yr’s parade will once more be televised by KSEE Channel 24, starting at 10 a.m.
The day’s occasions will start with the Veterans Day Run and Stroll that can happen downtown previous to the parade at 7:30 occasion, that includes the 5K and 10K run and walks.
This yr’s parade may even have a particular tribute earlier than the parade as a approach to say thanks to all who’ve served within the Armed Forces. The Metropolis of Portervlle has partnered with Skydive Elsinore, SDE, to supply the particular tribute.
Jay Stokes, an SDE navy coach, will carry out a skydive, touchdown on Important Avenue. SDE has been working since 1959 and has a coaching facility in Porterville, which is a registered drop zone utilized completely for navy airborne coaching and is cleared by the U.S. Particular Operations Command for navy parachuting.
The 104th annual Porterville Veterans Day Parade introduced by American Legion Publish 20 will once more be televised by KSEE Channel 24 and can function a particular skydiving tribute earlier than the parade begins.
The parade shall be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, November 11, Veterans Day, in downtown Porterville. The annual Veterans Day Run and Stroll may even happen previous to the parade at 7:30 a.m., that includes the 5K and 10K run and walks.
Because it did final yr KSEE24 will broadcast the parade starting at 10 a.m. “The Metropolis of Porterville is proud to be a part of such a patriotic neighborhood, which repeatedly pays tribute to its Veterans, making the Porterville Veterans parade one of many largest within the Central Valley and the longest-running within the nation,” town acknowledged.
Proper earlier than the parade begins Stokes will land with a 2,500-square foot American flag in entrance of Metropolis Corridor. Stokes is a veteran of the US Army Special Forces and has carried out greater than 27,000 jumps.
When requested if he was trying ahead to Stokes’ efficiency, Atchley mentioned, Very a lot so.”
And naturally the parade will cease at 11 a.m. through which a horn will sound to acknowledge the top of World Warfare I.
BAND-A-RAMA
This yr there are 12 center college and highschool bands taking part within the occasion. Every band will march into the stadium performing a march they’ve ready for the occasion and can take their place on the sphere.
After all of the bands are on the sphere retired Porterville Excessive Band Director Jim Kusserow will lead all of the bands en masse as they are going to carry out patriotic music to honor veterans and as thanks for his or her service.
As Kusserow took the baton from Shaffer in following him because the Porterville Panther Band Director, Kusserow has additionally taken the baton from Shaffer to direct on the bands on the Band-A-Rama.
Following the massed band efficiency, the Granite Hills Grizzly, Monache Marauder, and Porterville Panther Marching Bands will carry out their discipline exhibits.
Admittance to the Band-A-Rama is free. Donations shall be collected for veterans.
The present is devoted to service women and men who’ve served the nation or are at present serving the nation.
At 2 p.m. the American Legion Publish 20 Coloration Guard will lead Boy Scout Troop No. 132 beneath advisor Don Valdez within the carrying of the American flag across the observe, stopping in entrance of the grandstands for the Pledge of Allegiance led by Grasp of Ceremonies Brent Gill. Then the parade of bands will start.
After that the invocation shall be supplied by First Congregational Church Pastor Cheri Taylor, adopted by Kusserow directing all of the bands of their efficiency.
In the course of the efficiency practically 70 majorettes and baton twirlers from all of the bands shall be featured because the bands play the U.S. Navy’s “Anchors Aweigh” and the Marine Hymn. Greater than 1,000 college students shall be featured within the efficiency.
There are quite a few bands beneath the path of band administrators who’re native highschool graduates who shall be featured. They embody Porterville Excessive graduates Jim Kusserow, Nicholas Walters, the director of the Strathmore Excessive Band, and PHS Band Director Clark Keele; Monache graduates, Monache band director Justin Adams, Strathmore Center College Band Director George Baker, Summit Collegiate Excessive College band director Donna Steigleder and Woodville College band director John Rodriguez; and Granite Hills Excessive graduate, Burton Center College band director Jack Amaral.
