Live Veterans Day Parade returns to Linn County
By Alex Paul
Communications Officer
ALBANY — Christine Ferguson got involved with the Linn County Veterans Day Parade as a way for a newcomer to the mid-valley to get to know more people.
But the West Virginia transplant never dreamed she was going to head up rebuilding the largest Veterans Day Parade west of the Mississippi, complete with more than 180 entries and nearly 1,000 musicians in middle school, high school and Oregon State marching bands.
“I had never planned anything bigger than a child’s birthday party before,” Ferguson said.
Friday, thousands of people of all ages will line the Albany parade route, welcoming back the parade that has been on hiatus in its usual form for two years due to the Covid 19 pandemic. Instead, people have driven past floats hosted at the Mid-Willamette Valley YMCA, continuing to honor our veterans.
The parade — “Welcome Home Veterans — will cap a busy week for the many volunteers involved. The presenting sponsor is Fisher Funeral Home and is being dedicated to former volunteer Linda Baker, past VFW Auxiliary District President and VFW Post 584 Auxiliary President.
Linn County Commissioner and Navy veteran Will Tucker will emcee the annual Veteran of the Year Banquet at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Linn County Fair & Expo Center.
Veteran of the Year is David Solomon, a Navy radioman veteran and current commander of American Legion Post 10. Nominees were Charles McCarthy, Chet Hall, Dale Jenkins, Michael Aaron, Randy Martnak, Robert Gore and Robert Lemke.
Distinguished Veterans are James Marquis, John Schuler and Charles Bronson.
The Willamette Valley Concert Band will have two patriotic performances at the Lebanon High School auditorium at 7 p.m. Thursday, and 3 p.m. on Saturday.
The Optimist Club Veterans Day breakfast will be served from 6-9:30 a.m. on Friday at West Albany High School. The Eagles Veterans Day breakfast will be served from 7-10 a.m. on Friday at the Eagles Lodge, 127 NW Broadalbin St.
The Veterans Day Memorial ceremony will be held at 8:30 a.m. Friday at Timber Linn Memorial Park.
The Veterans Day Parade will start at 11 a.m. Friday near the Linn County Jail on Jackson Street and proceed north to Pacific Boulevard, west to Lyons Street, north on Lyons, then and west on 2nd Ave. to Ferry, south on Ferry, then east on 4th Ave., culminating in front of the north side of the Linn County Courthouse.
Band awards will be announced and presented on the courthouse steps.
Other parade awards will be presented at the American Legion Post 10.
Veterans Day Parade officers: Christine Ferguson, president; David Solomon, vice-president; Karen Force, secretary; Penny McCarthy, treasurer.
Banquet committee members: Mark Lamberty, Larry Sayles, Linda Rose, Samantha Moon, Bob Gore, Tom Nolen, Sfc. Ryan Cloutier, Sfc. Joshua Yost, Sgt. James deBra, the 234th Army Band.
Memorial Service: LCVMA President Robin Nygren, Commissioner Will Tucker, Albany Mayor Alex Johnson II, National Anthem by Erin Jacobson, colors posted by Lebanon Junior ROTC, keynote speaker Randy Martinak, gun salute by Oregon Army National Guard, Taps by American Legion Post 10, colors retired by Lebanon Junior ROTC.
Parade staging and coordination: Chuck Knoll, Brian Easton, Jonald Gradwohl.
Marketing and sponsorship: MSgt. Nicholas Schaffer, Taylor Schaffer, MMASSmedia.
Media contact: Alex Paul, Linn County Communications Officer, 541-967-3825 or apaul@co.linn.or.us.
