Veterans Day Parade is Wednesday

The entire community will again come out to celebrate its veterans on Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11.

The day will begin with the annual City of Porterville Veterans Day Run and Walk at 7:30 a.m. in front of City Hall. Cost for the 5K and 10K run and walk is $30 and $10 for veterans and all military active duty personnel. To sign up for the Veterans Day Run & Walk visit the Parks and Leisure page at: https://runsignup.com/Race/CA/Porterville/VeteransDayRunRace

Packet pickup for the race can be done from 4 to 6 p.m. today at City Hall.

Following the race will be the 108th annual Porterville Veterans Day Parade at 10 a.m. on Main Street. The theme for this year's parade is “250 Years of Valor."

The parade is presented by American Legion Post 20, the Porterville Veterans Memorial District and the Veterans Homecoming Committee. The parade will be shown live on KSEE 24.

A special attraction at this year's parade will be the California Army National Guard Infantry 40th Division Band. "That's a plus for Porterville to have that band to come to town to participate in our parade," said Bob Atchley of American Legion Post 20.

Atchley is serving as this year's Veterans Day Grand Marshal and also heads up the organization of the parade but also stresses the entire American Legioin Post 20 helps organize the parade. Atchley is also the leader of the local American Legion Riders and said he would be riding his motorcyle along with that group in the parade.

Atchley served for more than 40 years in the U.S. Air Force, first in the medical field and then in security forces. He retired from the Air National Guard 114th Fighter Wing security forces based in Fresno in 2011.

Atchley took over as the head organizer of the parade in 2021 following the COVID pandemic. "It has gotten back to what it as originally was before COVID," said Atchley about the parade.

This year's Veterans Homecoming Queen is Zoey Say. Yaneli Robles is Princess and Michelle Rodriguez is the Atttendant.

After the parade will be the Buck Shaffer Band-A-Rama at Rankin Stadium. A preshow will be presented when the Strathmore High Band will perform its field show at about 1:15 p.m.

The event will the begin at about 2 p.m. The American Legion Post 20 Color Guard will lead Boy Scout Troupe 132 carrying a large American flag around the track, stopping in front of the stands for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Local high school and middle school bands will march on the track with the California Army National Guard Band marching onto the track first. The bands will then give a massed band patriotic performance in honor of veterans under the direction of former Porterville High Panther Band Director Jim Kusserow.

Following the massed band performance, The Summit Collegiate High School, Granite Hills, Monache Marauder and Porterville High Panther bands will perform field shows.

The Band-A-Rama is free with donations accepted at the conclusion of the event to support Veterans Day activities.

Veterans Day Parade is Wednesday

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