Arts & Entertainment
Military Service Parade to 'Wow' Pierce County
The purpose of the parade is to celebrate active duty and retired veterans of Pierce County, including Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
Written by Brent Champaco
Volunteers, veterans and others who support the military are preparing to bring back the kind of celebration the South Sound hasn't seen in almost 60 years.
On Aug. 24 down Pacific Avenue in Tacoma, the community will host the Celebrating Military Service Parade, an effort to honor the large presence of active-duty and retired veterans living in and around Pierce County, the largest contingent having served at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
A special concert will kick off the festivities at 5 p.m. and the parade will begin at 6 p.m. in downtown Tacoma.
The event would still be huge if we're just talking Joint Base Lewis-McChord and its 44,000 active military personnel and total population of 100,000 people. But organizers will be honoring every military branch: Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, International Guard and more. Expect the parade list to be long and the route lined with onlookers.
The Celebrating Military Service Parade isn't tied to a particular holiday or homecoming of soldiers. It isn't for any specific unit or brigade. It's intended to honor anyone who has served our country and represented the South Sound.
The people behind one of the region's largest events of the year - the Daffodil Festival - are organizing the military parade.
"We’re the nut jobs who do four parades in one day – one isn’t going to be that difficult," says Executive Director Steve James. "It's an honor to be asked to do this, and we want to bring a sense of genuine authenticity to the event."
Volunteers, veterans and others who support the military are preparing to bring back the kind of celebration the South Sound hasn't seen in almost 60 years.
On Aug. 24 down Pacific Avenue in Tacoma, the community will host the Celebrating Military Service Parade, an effort to honor the large presence of active-duty and retired veterans living in and around Pierce County, the largest contingent having served at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
A special concert will kick off the festivities at 5 p.m. and the parade will begin at 6 p.m. in downtown Tacoma.
The event would still be huge if we're just talking Joint Base Lewis-McChord and its 44,000 active military personnel and total population of 100,000 people. But organizers will be honoring every military branch: Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, International Guard and more. Expect the parade list to be long and the route lined with onlookers.
The Celebrating Military Service Parade isn't tied to a particular holiday or homecoming of soldiers. It isn't for any specific unit or brigade. It's intended to honor anyone who has served our country and represented the South Sound.
The people behind one of the region's largest events of the year - the Daffodil Festival - are organizing the military parade.
"We’re the nut jobs who do four parades in one day – one isn’t going to be that difficult," says Executive Director Steve James. "It's an honor to be asked to do this, and we want to bring a sense of genuine authenticity to the event."
"We do nothing in this county to celebrate the military, collectively -- this isn't another parade with clowns, pirates and bands," he added. "The last thing we want is another of the same."
The event will feature a Who's Who of local decorated military personnel: Medal of honor recipients, retired generals, "amazing men who don't come out in public anymore."
Although the Daffodil Festival is organizing and managing the military parade, the City of Tacoma is paying for security, infrastructure and other costs.
Organizers are still finalizing the full list of speakers and special guests, but they do know who will be the Grand Marshal: Medal of Honor Recipient Col. (Ret.) Joe Jackson.
James says it's the first military parade in the area that can be identified since 1956.
For more information, check out the Daffodil Festival's page.
Although the Daffodil Festival is organizing and managing the military parade, the City of Tacoma is paying for security, infrastructure and other costs.
Organizers are still finalizing the full list of speakers and special guests, but they do know who will be the Grand Marshal: Medal of Honor Recipient Col. (Ret.) Joe Jackson.
James says it's the first military parade in the area that can be identified since 1956.
For more information, check out the Daffodil Festival's page.
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