A World War II veteran who will soon turn 101 is expected to lead the annual Arnold Veterans Day Parade this year.
Oscar Masters of Arnold has been named the grand marshal for the parade, which is set for 11 a.m. Friday. The parade is organized by the Arnold Parks and Recreation Department, the Arnold Veterans Commission and the Fox High School Student Council. The student council will also hold a luncheon and program for veterans following the parade.
Masters will celebrate his birthday on Nov. 18. After graduating from high school, he joined the Army Air Corps., now the U.S. Air Force. He was a pilot during World War II but never flew missions in the war because he was always going through phase training.
“We are very happy to have Oscar as the grand marshal,” said Larry Boyce, a Veterans Commission member.
Parade participants will gather at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 2211 Tenbrook Road, in Arnold, and church members will serve coffee and doughnuts starting at 10 a.m. The parade will travel from the church’s parking lot down Tenbrook Road and then cross Jeffco Boulevard to enter the Fox C-6 School District schools campus, 751 Jeffco Blvd. The parade will feature veterans walking and riding on buses and trollies, as well as military vehicles.
The veterans will then circle the campus, which is home to Fox elementary, middle and high schools, Rickman Auditorium and the Central Office.
“We enjoy going through the schools the most and seeing the kids out there,” Boyce said. “That is the highlight of the parade, seeing the kids. I know they are glad to get out of school for a while, but they really seem to enjoy it and respect the veterans.”
The procession will end near the flagpole outside the Central Office, where a wreath ceremony will be held.
Fox High Principal Joe Salsman said the students and staff look forward to the parade.
“We love that our school participates in this special event, and we believe that the veterans enjoy the student participation as well,” he said.
After the ceremony, Fox High juniors and seniors will join the veterans for lunch and the program organized by student council members.
“You go into Rickman Auditorium for the program, and you can hear a pin drop during the ceremony,” Boyce said. “They are interested in what you have to say and what you have been through and done to serve you country. The guest speaker this year is a graduate of Fox and a former Marine, Matt Faller. He is very energetic and knowledgeable. We look forward to his input.”
Fox High senior Taylor Schwalbe, 17, of Imperial said the Veterans Day celebration is an important tradition for the campus.
“The Veterans Day Parade is a great way for students of all grade levels on the Fox campus to show their appreciation and honor our veterans within the community,” said Schwalbe, one of two student council vice presidents. “Holding the Veterans Day luncheon and ceremony is a great way for us to connect with the veterans within our community, as well as our staff members and teachers who have served. We want our celebration for the veterans to be something they can look forward to each year, as I know my grandpa used to love coming to the school Veterans Day celebrations with me when I was younger.”
Approximately 125 veterans participated in last year’s parade, and Boyce said he hopes that number grows this year.
“We try to improve every year on the number of veterans we have, and we have done that,” he said. “I expect this to be the biggest parade that we have had.”
For information about the parade, call the Arnold Parks and Recreation Department at 636-282-2380 or email kfay@arnoldmo.org.