Armed Forces Day Parade coming May 18 at 6 p.m.
The Seventh-Annual Greenville Armed Forces Day Parade, hosted by Lockheed Martin, Furman University ROTC, Greenville County Schools and U.S. Rep. Bob Inglis will be held at 6 p.m., Friday, May 18th in downtown Greenville. The purpose of the parade is to honor active, retired and deceased men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces for service to the nation.
In past years the parade has taken place on Armed Forces Day morning (the third Saturday in May). This year the parade has been moved to the Friday night preceding Armed Forces Day so that more spectators might be compelled to attend along with coinciding with the ongoing Main Street Jazz event.
The parade route will begin at Broad Street and Main Street, continue north on Main before ending at North Street. A short public ceremony at the Hyatt Plaza will follow, featuring patriotic music, a 21-gun salute, military flyover and more. After the ceremony, active, retired and reserve military will be welcomed by several downtown restaurants for special discounts.
Lockheed Martin is the major sponsor this year, while WSPA-TV, The Times Examiner, The Greenville News, Fairway Outdoor Advertising, News Radio 1330/950 AM, WMUU - the Upstate’s beautiful music station, WLFJ His Radio, Magic 98.9 and others have signed on as major media sponsors. Other local businesses are also supporting the parade through various contributions.
Parade participants will include active and reserve military units, the Greenville Joint Veterans Counsel, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Marine Corps League, Military Officers Association of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Veterans Service Corps, Blue Star Mothers, The Patriot Guard, Civil Air Patrol, Boy and Girl Scouts, high school bands, ROTC and JROTC units and other military groups. Elected officials at the state and county levels have also been invited to participate. City and county law enforcement, EMS and local fire departments will participate as well.
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