The 18th Annual Galesburg Veterans’ Day Parade is today. 21-year veteran of the National Guard and parade organizer Ryan Hummel says the parade began shortly after 9/11 in 2001 with the late Larry Anderson and Mike Allen. Hummel tells WGIL that each year the parade lasts about 45 minutes.
“We start at Seminary and Faris and it follows the normal parade route going west on Main St., around down Cherry St., and terminating at the Court House where we have our ceremony for the Grand Marshall to speak. We also have Choral Dynamics contributing a singer to do the National Anthem, we have the playing of taps for our fallen soldiers, the Mayor will be speaking, and this year we have the first female Grand Marshell.”
That Grand Marshall is Air Force Captain and nurse during the Vietnam War Dorothy Plunkett. Plunkett attended the former Cottage College of Nursing here in Galesburg. The parade will also feature the Monmouth College Pipe Band and the Costa Catholic Academy Band. The line-up for the parade is at 1:00 pm with a 2:00 pm start.
