Veterans Day parade again to be early, on Friday

The date is as much a part of the tradition as the high-school bands and the floats: The annual Columbus Veterans Day parade is not on Veterans Day.

Every year, Veterans Day is Nov. 11. And every year, it’s observed as a state and federal holiday, which means that Downtown is pretty empty.

This year, Nov. 11 is next Monday. So, to ensure that lots of people are around to cheer on the marchers, the parade will be held on Friday, said Rick Isbell, president of the Military Veterans Education Foundation.

The foundation organizes the parade — a few days before the holiday — every year.

This year’s event honors two groups. The first, about 2,000 members of the Ohio Army National Guard’s 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, returned from a deployment to Afghanistan and nearby areas late last year. Isbell said 250 or more of the soldiers will march in the parade.

Also honored will be Korean War veterans. The 60th anniversary of the armistice ending the conflict was on July 27.

The Korean War is called “the forgotten war,” Isbell said. “They really don’t get their due. They are some amazing people.”

Friday’s events will begin at 10:30 a.m., with a ceremony in the city council chamber on the second floor of City Hall, 90 W. Broad St. Warren Motts, the founder of Motts Military Museum in Groveport, will speak.

Meanwhile, parade participants will gather on Nationwide Boulevard west of High Street. The parade will start at noon and proceed south on High Street, then west on Broad Street, ending at Franklin County Veterans Memorial.

The parade usually lasts about 90 minutes. Nationwide Boulevard will close at 10 a.m. The other roads will be closed as the parade passes.

Near the end, the Marines of Columbus-based Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment will collect items for their Toys for Tots program. The items will go to needy children for Christmas.