About 100 veterans took part in either the Arnold Veterans Day Parade or a luncheon held at the Fox C-6 Service Center on Nov. 11, said Larry Boyce, a member of the Arnold Veterans Commission.
“We thought it went very well,” said Boyce, who served two years in the Army after being drafted in 1967 during the Vietnam War. “It was one of the best we have seen in the last few years. The parade was a little bigger than usual, and we are planning on more for next year.”
The parade began at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church on Tenbrook Road in Arnold, which provided coffee and doughnuts to participants. Then the parade proceeded to the Fox schools campus, which is home to the Fox High, Fox Middle and Fox Elementary schools as well as the Central Office and Bridges High School.
Following a ceremony at the flagpole outside the Bridges alternative school, Fox High Student Council members held a luncheon and program for the veterans at the Fox Service Center.
“It was so nice,” said Arla Tweedy, post commander for Arnold VFW Post 2593 and the parade’s grand marshal. “The students were outstanding. They are so supportive. It doesn’t get any better than that. Even as cold as it was, I don’t think anybody would have had it any other way.”
Boyce said he enjoyed seeing the students from the schools line the parade route through the campus.
“It is always good to see the kids out, and they really enjoy it,” he said. “I really appreciated the kids being out, and they are really enthusiastic.”
Karen Fay, the Arnold Parks and Recreation Department procurement and maintenance coordinator who helps organize the annual parade, said she loves the event.
“The Veterans Parade is always a great event to have and watch because my heart just goes out to all of them,” she said.
Tweedy said the veterans who attended the luncheon received some unexpected entertainment.
Jack Poitras, an Army veteran who plays the bugle at the National Cemetery at Jefferson Barracks, performed “When the Saints Go Marching In,” with some help from his dog, Sally.
“His therapy dog, Sally, barked along with him,” Tweedy said. “As soon as he started playing, she stood up. It was amazing.”
Fox High Principal Ryan Sherp said about 30 Student Council members organized the program at the service center, which included performances by the school’s concert choir and marching band. He said about 200 students in total participated in the program.
“The level of care and love you felt in the room is hard to explain,” Sherp said. “It had a very intimate feel to it in the Service Center.”
In the past, the luncheon was held in the high school gym and the assembly was held in Rickman Auditorium, but they were relocated this year because of the construction underway on the campus.
Sherp said he expects the luncheon and assembly to return to those locations next year, which will allow more students to attend the assembly.
“I think we will go back to the old format because we didn’t have as many kids participate as in past years,” he said. “The juniors and seniors really like to attend the ceremony. It is a great day.”
In the running
Tweedy is still in contention to win $40,000 in a competition called FabOver40, which asks women over 40 what they would do with the grand prize.
The contest raises money for the National Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation by requesting donations for additional votes. People may cast a free vote once every 24 hours.
Tweedy recently earned enough votes to snag a spot among the final five participants in her group for a chance to compete against the other finalists. The competition ends on Dec. 15.
Tweedy is challenging area businesses to match a $10,000 donation from her prize money to raise funds for a veterans memorial to be built near the gazebo outside the Arnold Recreation Center. She also said she would use the prize money to support VFW members.
To vote for Tweedy, go to votefab40.com/2022/arla-tweedy. The current group voting rounds end at 9 p.m. today, Nov. 17.
“I am so excited,” she said. “I have been doing very well so far. I am so pleased to have the opportunity.”