On Thursday, November 11, 2021, chapter members and spouses attended the 2021 Veterans Day Parade that was held in El Campo, Texas. The event was organized and sponsored by the El Campo ISD and Saint Philips Catholic school. See the official parade flyers below for all parade details...
We would like to thank chapter member's spouses, Carolyn Milder and Rose Peikert for taking all the pictures of the parade that are shown below. We'd also like to thank Carolyn for providing us with the parade report shown below...
Thursday, November 11, 2021 - Parade Report by Carolyn Milder...
The pre-parade meeting area was held early at the El Campo Civic Center before 9:00 AM, which was the scheduled start time for the parade. There were at least 40-50 vehicles that showed up at the Civic Center parking lot, for a pre-parade ceremony and to then line up for the parade. The attending crowd was pretty large and included the El Campo High School Band. However, due to an incoming rain storm, the parade start time was delayed for a half hour or so. When the rain finally stopped, the El Campo High School band played the "Star Spangled Banner" and several other songs to honor the attending Veterans. Around 9:30 AM or so, the parade started with all the Veterans following in their vehicles and driving the planned parade route that passed through all the El Campo ISD schools and lastly ended up at St Philips Catholic school. It was really an amazing site to see all the school children and teachers wearing the small U.S. flags and waving, as the Veterans drove through all the El Campo school campuses. Despite the rain delay, the parade was a huge success, and I'm sure all the attending Veterans appreciated it very much. And I'm sure it will again be scheduled for next year on Veterans Day.
Carolyn Milder
Above photo shows chapter BOD member Augie Limas with his parade-ready pickup. All those flags would
normally be flying on the back of his beautiful 3-wheel motorcycle, but the parade day's weather forcast
was not very condusive to riding on a motorcycle.
Above photo shows chapter member Louis Milder's pickup - it too was parade-ready with the American flag and the VVA flag mounted in the bed.
Above photo shows chapte member David Wagner standing silently while the band played the Star Spangled Banner and other songs to honor the attending Veterans.
And again, the back of Augie's pickup - those flags really look good. Left to right, the POW flag, the American flag and the VVA National organization's flag.
Above photo shows the huge Army vehicle that belongs to local resident and Vietnam Veteran, Joe Freeman. Joe is a big supporter of our chapter and has let our chapter members ride on his Army truck and trailer for past El Campo Christmas parades.
Above photo shows chapter Vice President, Larry Monroe and his wife Sharon waiting for the parade
to start. Looks like Larry has brought his very special "Parade Float" to this parade!
Above photo shows long time chapter member, Rusty Butts getting ready for the parade to start.
Above photo shows chapter member, David Wagner.
Above photo was taken from chapter member Harold Peikert's vehicle, by his wife, Rose. The photo shows all the school students standing out in front of their school, waving small American flags, as the parade drove by. Thanks much to Rose for sending us this picture.
And finally, the above photo shows chapter member, Louis Milder, getting his vehicle ready before the parade. Note that Louis is wearing our chapter's standard-issue vest and has personally decorated it to his liking. All our chapter members are encouraged to do the same with their vests.
The photos below were provided by Carolyn and Rose as examples of some of the drawings that the school children created for this parade to hand out to the Veterans as they passed each school.
The Chapter Officers and BOD members would like to thank all chapter members & spouses who attended and participated in the El Campo Veterans Day parade! Hopefully if the EC ISD decides to sponsor a Veterans Day parade next year, our chapter members can again attend and join in the parade.