Published: November 07, 2009 10:18 pm      

Veterans Day Parade Saturday

Dalton to honor ‘Wounded Warriors’

Calling all veterans.

In a year when four National Guardsmen wounded in Afghanistan will be the grand marshals, Dalton’s annual Veterans Day Parade on Saturday is looking for your participation.

“There’s an open invitation to all veterans who want to be in the parade,” Rick Brown of Operation Uplift, a deployed troops and veterans support group, said. “They may show up on the morning of the parade if they want to participate. This parade will be a great opportunity for the citizens of Dalton and Chatsworth, Whitfield and Murray counties to show their support of these guys and all of our local (Georgia Army National Guard) Charlie Troop soldiers.”

The parade, slated to start at 11 a.m. in downtown Dalton, will be the culmination of a “Wounded Warriors” tour this week that puts the spotlight on Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey Boyles, Spc. Andrew Sullens, Spc. Anthony Landowski and Cpl. Nate Watson — four members of Charlie Troop who have been recovering from injuries sustained in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast and an enemy gunfire. The four soldiers will be appearing at a concert, luncheons, schools, a banquet and the parade from Tuesday through Saturday.

Also appearing as special guests at the parade will be Command Sgt. Major James Nelson Jr. and Col. Thomas Carden, the military personnel officer for the Georgia National Guard who will speak at the courthouse after the parade.

The parade will be staged on Waugh Street with parking at First Baptist Church and the Dalton Municipal Court building (the old jail). It will proceed south down Thornton Avenue, turn east onto Emery Street, turn north on Pentz Street, west onto Crawford, then back to the church via Selvidge and Waugh streets to the staging area. There will be 200 Shriners, many with their funny vehicles, to keep everyone amused.

A ceremony at the courthouse will feature prizes for best decorated float, best band and the mayor’s award, among others. After the ceremony lunch will be provided for veterans at the American Legion at 1118 N. Glenwood Ave.

Any other groups or organizations that want to participate can call John Wilson at (706) 980-9797 or e-mail him at JrWilson@windstream.net.