It’s about time for a parade

We are extending a huge thank you and welcome home to all the Vietnam veterans and to those who served during the Vietnam era. Sometimes we take freedom and independence for granted, but at this time of the year especially (Memorial Day and Fourth of July) we need to remember and thank those who served in our United States military services at any time.

My daddy, Bill Gill, was considered a “lifer,” and we grew up as “military brats,” which I am proud to be! Daddy retired after a tour of duty in Vietnam during [the] Tet [[Offensive], [and] the family relocated to his hometown of Statesville in the late ‘60s. Daddy retired as a command sergeant major, and we are all very proud of him. My two older brothers (Mark and Mike) served in the Army and Navy, and the younger twins (Robby and Tommy) served in the Army and Air Force, and we all very proud of them as well. Thank you, Daddy, and thank you, my brothers!

On Saturday, June 28, at 11 a.m., the town of Troutman will host a parade sponsored by the Marine Corps League #1097 that will begin at the Iredell County Agricultural Fairgrounds. Vietnam-era veterans who served “in country” or stateside will ride on floats as our grand marshals. (They don’t have to reside in Iredell County; we already have entries from five states!) We “welcome home” these soldiers who were never properly welcomed home during this trying time for the United States, and we thank them sincerely.

Any Vietnam-era veterans wanting to ride on the grand-marshal float should contact the town of Troutman at (704) 528-7600 or send an e-mail to: troutmanparade@yahoo.com to get an entry form prior to June 13. We are also still looking for entries from churches, businesses, civic organizations, scout troops, youth groups and marching bands.

Deadline is June 13. We already have a lot of veterans registered from five different states, and we even have a submarine that will be in the parade!

We say thank you to all military personnel and to all of those who supported them.

— Linda and Patrick Larkin
Statesville

SHARE

Thanks for reading through to the end…

We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.

We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.

About Webmaster
Mountain Xpress Webmaster Follow me @MXWebTeam

Before you comment

The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.

One thought on “It’s about time for a parade

Leave a Reply

To leave a reply you may Login with your Mountain Xpress account, connect socially or enter your name and e-mail. Your e-mail address will not be published. All fields are required.