Terry Lacey is holding out hope that Saturday’s weather will shine on Oak Harbor’s Veterans Day parade.
He’s optimistic even though some weather forecasts are calling for occasional rain.
“We’ve been lucky so far,” said Lacey, the parade’s founder, pointing to the event’s past.
The parade will start at 11 a.m. and travel along Pioneer Way. It will start near the intersection at Midway Boulevard and finish near the parking lot of Ace Hardware.
The start time was moved up three hours this year with warmer temperatures in mind and to give people more time to enjoy the rest of the day, said Lacey.
The retired chief petty officer was surprised three years ago to find Oak Harbor didn’t have a Veterans Day parade, learning from conversations with city officials that November’s usual chilly temperatures were considered the stumbling block.
Lacey opted to organize a parade anyway, citing Oak Harbor’s large military presence, and has watched the event steadily grow in attendance in each of the first three years.
“The more I thought about it, the more I thought we really should do something,” Lacey said.
“I think it’s very appropriate,” said Oak Harbor’s Dick Johnson, a retired master chief. “Not only do you have active duty people, you also have a lot of retired military that are here.”
Johnson, who’s been involved in various community causes since making Oak Harbor his home in 1975, was selected as the parade’s grand marshal.
During his naval career, he was the first force master chief of the Navy Reserve, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2015.
Among the parade’s highlights will be a flyover by one or two of the MH-60S Knighthawk helicopters from Whidbey Island Naval Air Station’s search and rescue team.
This is the first time the parade will have a flyover, Lacey said.
“We were hoping to get Growlers but they were not available,” Lacey said. “SAR stepped up and said they were happy to do it and we’re happy to have them.”
Capt. Michael Nortier, NAS Whidbey commanding officer, and Capt. Brett Mietus, commodore for Wing 10, are scheduled to walk in the parade.
Active duty military will carry Fallen Hero Banners to honor those who have died in service to the country. The banners are arranged by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Lady Auxiliary.
About 50 groups will participate in the parade, including three color guards, three motorcycle groups, the high school band and a group of drummers from Edmonds. About 200-250 people will make up parade, which is expected to last about 45 minutes, Lacey said.
A ceremony honoring those who have served also will be held on Veterans Day itself, Wednesday, Nov. 11, at Oak Harbor High School.
That event, put on by the Oak Harbor Area Council of the Navy League of the United States, will start at 11 a.m. in the high school’s student union building.
The theme this year will be “Honoring our Nation’s Heroes” and will include musical performances by the All-Island Community Band and high school treble choir.
A vocal ensemble made up of active duty service men and women from NAS Whidbey will perform the national anthem.
The guest speaker will be Capt. Scott “Topper” Farr, commander, Electronic Attack Wing, Pacific.
