Chamber still accepting parade entries
LAWTON — The largest Armed Forces Day parade in the nation will roll through the streets of Lawton May 20 with highlights including a U.S Air Force flyover and cannon blasts from Fort Sill artillery.
This year’s parade will be preceded by a swearing-in of new Army recruits by Brig. General Shane P. Morgan.
The flyover by jets from Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas, will occur at the beginning of the parade and the Fort Sill cannon firings will take place as the military parade entries pass by the review stand.
“For this to be a military town, having a parade this big is a great feeling,” said Kelley Piret, coordinator for Lawton’s Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Parade entries are still being accepted, Piret said. The military will bring about 500 personnel to the parade. About 100 more entries will be part of the parade, she added.
The parade will begin at Central Plaza and can be viewed along C Avenue, 11th Street and Ferris Avenue.
Parade entry forms can be picked up at the Lawton-Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce or print the entry form from the chamber website: www.lawtonfortsillchamber.com.
Lawton’s Armed Forces Day celebration has been held for more than 50 years.
In past parades, different field artillery and air defense artillery vehicles have been sporadically placed throughout the parade giving viewers a taste of the firepower at Fort Sill. Although Fort Sill is the host military installation for the parade, other military services are typically represented by active-duty members, according to a story published on the Army website.
President Harry S. Truman led the effort to establish a single holiday for citizens to come together and thank military members for their patriotic service in support of the country.
Armed Forces Day was created Aug. 31, 1949, when Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced one celebration would replace separate Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force days. The single-day celebration stemmed from the unification of the armed forces under one department – the Department of Defense.
Park events
Aside from the parade, the chamber and CVB have planned a full slate of activities from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Elmer Thomas Park, which include live music, static displays, children’s activities, food trucks and various vendors.
“We will have a lot of things going on at the park,” Piret said. “This year’s event, including the parade, will be larger than in years past.”
Tents will be set up along the parade route and at the park to accommodate veterans from the Veterans Center in Lawton.
“We will be paying homage to all of our military, including our veterans,” said interim Chamber President and CEO Taron Epps. Epps spent 22 years in the military and retired as an Army major from Fort Sill.