ANNA MARIA – The city will host its annual “Old Soldiers & Sailors” Veterans Day parade on Thursday, Nov. 11 at 1 p.m., this year featuring a warbird flyover.
Last year’s parade and veterans ceremony was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Parade participants will travel down Pine Avenue from Anna Maria City Hall to City Pier Park, where a veterans recognition and appreciation ceremony will take place under the shade sail structure at about 1:30 p.m.
The parade will feature four high school marching bands, military and law enforcement vehicles, a Marine Corps honor guard, youngsters from The Center, the AMI Privateer’s “Skullywag” parade vessel, floats, decorated vehicles, walking groups, state and local politicians and more.
The post-parade veterans ceremony will include a flyover featuring at least one World War II-era airplane, the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance led by a 100-year-old World War II veteran, a special tribute to veterans and their spouses and patriotic music performed by the marching bands.
“It’s going to be exciting. It’s going to be a good parade,” Mayor Dan Murphy said. “The purpose of these events that we put on is to bring a sense of community to our city and to our Island – to bring everybody together, to meet, greet and in some cases renew acquaintances, and in other cases make new acquaintances.”
