Saturday, the 8th of November, 2014. Last year we were humbeled to paticipate. This year our convoy has grown from 2 to 6 strong! One of the guys will be carrying the Grand Marshall and the rest of us will be carrying Vietnam Veteran!
Pics to follow.
Link to an article about the event and the history of the Grand Marshall.
http://www.wgem.com/story/26828678/veterans-day-parade-to-focus-on-vietnam-veterans
Veterans Day parade to focus on Vietnam veterans
Posted: Oct 20, 2014 7:46 AM CDT
Updated: Oct 20, 2014 7:57 AM CDT
By DON O'BRIEN
Herald-Whig staff Writer
Quincy's annual Veterans Day parade will focus this year on Vietnam veterans.
The Nov. 8 event, which will work its way through downtown Quincy, will feature a grand marshal who did two tours of duty and focus on a group of Quincyans who spent nearly a year fighting in the war. Members of the Army National Guard's former 126th Company, which was called the Hallmark Company, will ride through the parade on two military vehicles.
The 126th, the only Illinois National Guard unit sent to Vietnam, was deployed in September 1968. The 126th, which eventually evolved into the 1844th Transportation Company, spent 11 months in Chu Lai, South Vietnam.
The grand marshal will be retired Army First Sgt./Battalion Sgt. Major Richard Pace, who now lives in Canton, Mo. He served two tours in Vietnam and received the Purple Heart among other decorations and medals for his service. Pace was in the Old Guard of the Army. His unit served as the honor guard for President John F. Kennedy, and Pace was the lead horseman for the caisson carrying Kennedy's casket during his state funeral in 1963.
Parade organizer Dick McKinney said the parade has around 50 entries and would like to get up to 100. It will start at 10 a.m. at the intersection of 12th and Maine and head west, finishing at Washington Park. There is no fee to be in the event, McKinney said.
Another parade will be held at 1 p.m. at the Illinois Veterans Home for the enjoyment of its residents.
A B-25 from the Commemorate Air Force will make its return after appearing at the 2012 parade. Rides cost $395 for a short ride over Quincy.
-- dobrien@whig.com/221-3370
Pics to follow.
Link to an article about the event and the history of the Grand Marshall.
http://www.wgem.com/story/26828678/veterans-day-parade-to-focus-on-vietnam-veterans
Veterans Day parade to focus on Vietnam veterans
Posted: Oct 20, 2014 7:46 AM CDT
Updated: Oct 20, 2014 7:57 AM CDT
By DON O'BRIEN
Herald-Whig staff Writer
Quincy's annual Veterans Day parade will focus this year on Vietnam veterans.
The Nov. 8 event, which will work its way through downtown Quincy, will feature a grand marshal who did two tours of duty and focus on a group of Quincyans who spent nearly a year fighting in the war. Members of the Army National Guard's former 126th Company, which was called the Hallmark Company, will ride through the parade on two military vehicles.
The 126th, the only Illinois National Guard unit sent to Vietnam, was deployed in September 1968. The 126th, which eventually evolved into the 1844th Transportation Company, spent 11 months in Chu Lai, South Vietnam.
The grand marshal will be retired Army First Sgt./Battalion Sgt. Major Richard Pace, who now lives in Canton, Mo. He served two tours in Vietnam and received the Purple Heart among other decorations and medals for his service. Pace was in the Old Guard of the Army. His unit served as the honor guard for President John F. Kennedy, and Pace was the lead horseman for the caisson carrying Kennedy's casket during his state funeral in 1963.
Parade organizer Dick McKinney said the parade has around 50 entries and would like to get up to 100. It will start at 10 a.m. at the intersection of 12th and Maine and head west, finishing at Washington Park. There is no fee to be in the event, McKinney said.
Another parade will be held at 1 p.m. at the Illinois Veterans Home for the enjoyment of its residents.
A B-25 from the Commemorate Air Force will make its return after appearing at the 2012 parade. Rides cost $395 for a short ride over Quincy.
-- dobrien@whig.com/221-3370
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