The 18th annual De Soto Veterans Day Parade will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, on Main Street.
Mike Thurmond of the De Soto Elks, who chairs the parade committee, said the parade grand marshal will be Mike Christopher, a lifelong De Soto resident who was wounded while serving three months in Vietnam.
Christopher was drafted into the U.S. Army and completed basic training at Fort Leonard Wood. He was then stationed with the 4th Infantry Division in An Khe, South Vietnam.
On May 20, 1970, Christopher lost his right eye when he was hit by an enemy rocket propelled grenade. He was awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star with a “V” device (for combat valor), the Army Commendation Medal and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross. He retired from the Bank of Hillsboro in 2014 as the vice president, according to Christopher’s bio, which Thurmond provided.
“Every year, we try to pick someone who has done a lot,” Thurmond said. “Mike is a great person.”
Thurmond said anyone is welcome to walk in or decorate a vehicle to be in the parade, although no political parade entries or handouts are allowed.
It’s free to enter the parade, which is intended to let veterans and military service members know they are appreciated, Thurmond said.
“It does not cost a dime to be in the parade and you are allowed to throw out candy,” he said.
Registration is encouraged but not required. To register, call the De Soto Chamber of Commerce at 636-586-5591 or Thurmond at 636-633-2810.
Parade lineup begins at 8:30 a.m. on North Main at Mahn Funeral Home. The route will proceed from there to South Main Street to West St. Louis Street and end behind De Soto High School.
Thurmond said he anticipates 25-30 entries in this year’s parade. Local military organizations participate in the parade each year, and Farmington Elks will again participate, bringing their large American flag, which takes about 40 people to carry. The De Soto High School All District Band will take part.
Thurmond said he is waiting to hear if the Whiteman Air Force Base will provide a military aircraft flyover during the parade. Last year, a B-2 Bomber flew over.
He said he would love to see people show up for the parade and honor veterans like they did for the old Big Boy No. 4014 steam locomotive that rolled through town on Sept. 12.