De Soto Veterans Day Parade organizers are working to increase participation in this year’s event.
The 16th annual parade, sponsored by the De Soto Elks, will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, at Mahn Funeral Home, 900 N. Main St., and end at De Soto High School, 815 Amvets Drive.
Several other organizations help with the parade, including the De Soto Chamber of Commerce, De Soto VFW Post 1831, De Soto Amvets 48 and the De Soto Knights of Columbus.
Mike Thurmond, a past exalted ruler for the Elks and co-founder of the Veterans Day Parade, said he hopes to see more people attend the parade this year after an underwhelming turnout last year.
“We had a good parade but didn’t have anyone on Main Street to watch it,” he said.
Thurmond said organizers hope to get the word out about the parade this year by putting up yard signs advertising it and spreading the word on social media, with the help of several local chambers of commerce.
He said many people have to work on Veterans Day, so the parade is held the Saturday before in an effort to attract as many people as possible to the event.
Thurmond said several groups already have committed to take part in the parade, including the local police and fire departments and ambulance district; several high school bands; churches; the Lion’s Club; and the Boy Scouts. The Farmington Elks Club also be at the event with a large 30-by-50-foot American flag.
He said the parade is open to anyone who would like to have an entry that focuses on and praises veterans, although organizers would like to keep the parade free of political advertisements. There is no fee to enter the parade.
This year’s parade grand marshal will be Bob Lee, a De Soto Elks Club member, the other co-founder of the parade and recent winner of a Harry S. Truman Award.
“Bob has been helping with the parade since the beginning,” Thurmond said.
“I want him to have his time. He’s done a lot, and this will put the icing on the cake for him.”
Thurmond said the event typically highlights a specific group of veterans, such as Vietnam War Veterans or Korean War Veterans, but this year the theme is more general to highlight all veterans.
Applications to enter the parade are available on the De Soto Chamber of Commerce website at desotomochamber.com/parades or by emailing Mike Thurmond at mthurmond66@gmail.com.