Here's a guide to Tallahassee's Veterans Day events
Veterans Day events are flying high in Tallahassee this year.
In addition to a breakfast and the annual parade being held on Friday, Vet Events Tally announced that for the first time in the over 100-year history of the Tallahassee Veterans Day Parade there will be a military flyover above the parade route.
A flyover is also planned for the Military Appreciation Football Game on Saturday when Florida State will face Miami on Veterans Day.
The original squadron of several Air Force Special Operations Command’s MC-130J Commando II aircraft out of Hurlburt Field in Mary Esther set to participate in the parade flyover was called to real-world training in light of the conflict in the Middle East.
Parade organizers were able to secure back-up participation with pilots from the 23rd Flying Training Squadron based at Fort Novosel in Alabama. Instead of MC130s from Hurlburt, the parade will have USAF H-1H Huey II helicopters. According to information from the base, the model is one of the newest of more than 15 variants of the original Huey first flown in 1956.
The parade will begin with a rolling thunder motorcycle brigade at 10:40 a.m. the day before Veterans Day, due to scheduling conflicts with football games on the actual holiday.
Here's a look at plans for the holiday.
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Thursday
Veterans Day events begin at 11 a.m. Thursday with a the start of the 24-Hour Watch at the Vietnam Memorial, 463 S. Monroe St., with the Florida State University ROTC.
“Sisters for Soldiers” Film Screening at FSU: 6:30 p.m. event, 8 p.m. film, Landis Green. The women of Alpha Omicron Pi are sponsoring the “Sisters for Soldiers” film screening, with all proceeds benefitting the FSU Veterans Emergency Fund. There will be BBQ, vendor tables, cornhole and other activities and the Oscar-winning film “1917” will be shown starting at 8 p.m. Tickets are $7.
Friday
Operation Thank You Veterans Day Breakfast: Leon County Government and American Legion Sauls-Bridges Post 13 invite veterans, their families, and the community to the Operation Thank You Veterans Day breakfast from 6:30-9 a.m. Friday, Nov. 10, at the American Legion, 229 Lake Ella Drive. At 8 a.m., a ceremony honoring the service and sacrifice of those who served our country will take place.
Leon County Commissioners, County staff, American Legion members, and community volunteers will be serving breakfast to veterans. Each veteran in attendance will receive an Operation Thank You Commemorative Challenge Coin. This event is free and open to the public.
Vet Events Tally Parade: FullPress Apparel 5K & 1 Mile Fun Run, 8-9:30 a.m.
Parade Start: 10:40 a.m. The Parade viewing area is South Monroe Street from the intersection of Tennessee Street, a right on Madison Street and ending at Duval Street.
Parade Stops: 10:45 a.m. for conclusion of 24-Hour Watch at the Vietnam Memorial
11th Hour Ceremony: 11 a.m.
Annual Veterans Day Festival in the Chain of Parks: Immediately after the conclusion of the parade. Visit veteventstally.org.
Saturday
Florida State University’s Student Veterans Center will host a series of events and activities for the Tallahassee community to celebrate veterans and their service. Veterans Week will conclude with the Military Appreciation Football Game as the Florida State Seminoles take on the University of Miami Hurricanes.
“Florida State salutes veterans past, present and future,” said Billy Francis, director of the FSU Student Veterans Center in a press release. “Veterans Week at FSU was originated by students and embodies the special military and veteran supportive campus we have."
FSU’s history with veterans began with the renaming of Florida State College for Women to Florida State University in 1947 to allow men to attend the now co-educational university following World War II.
Military Appreciation Football Game: 3:30 p.m., Doak Campbell Stadium, Florida State Seminoles take on the University of Miami Hurricanes for the annual Military Appreciation Game, which will include an on-field recognition of currently enrolled veterans, a separate recognition of ROTC cadets, veteran-submitted photos displayed on the stadium’s video boards and a pregame flyover of military aircraft (conditions permitting).
The St. George Lighthouse Association: In partnership with SGI Veterans Reveille Group and the 106th American Legion in Apalachicola, the public is invited to a Veterans Day Ceremony in Lighthouse Park at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 11. This year’s ceremony will feature special guest, retired Col. Christopher R. Anderson, United States Air Force, as keynote speaker and Franklin County High School Cadet Core will be providing color guard services.
Road closures
Veterans 5K: The Veterans 5k will close Calhoun Street from Apalachee Pkwy to Gaines St. and Madison S. from Monroe St. to Calhoun St. starting at 6:30 a.m. until the parade ends. Franklin Ave. from Tennessee St. to Cascades Park will close at 7:45 a.m. until approximately 9:30 a.m.
Parade: Monroe St. from Brevard to Tennessee St. (staging area) will close at 8 a.m. and remain closed until the parade ends. The Parade route on Monroe St from Tennessee to Gaines St will close at 9:30 a.m. and remain closed until the parade ends. The Parade route and staging area should open up by 1 p.m.
Vet Fest: The Vet Fest in the Chain of Parks will close Park Ave. (westbound in front of the Federal Bankruptcy Court) from Monroe St. to Adams St. at 8 a.m. until the end of the Vet Fest (approximately 4 p.m.) Park Ave. (eastbound by the Doubletree) will be closed at 9:30 a.m. until the end of the Parade.
Correction: There's been a change in aircraft for the military flyover at the parade referenced in earlier version of this story. Instead of MC130s from Hurlburt, the parade will have USAF Huey helicopters from Fort Novosel out of Alabama. The original squadron was called up to active training.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Here's a guide to Tallahassee's Veterans Day parade, events
