Granite Shoals parade calling veterans’ groups

Sunday is the final day to enter a float or organization.

“This is the 3rd annual event and we are reaching out beyond Burnet County to the Texas Hill Country to include Blanco, Burnet, Lampasas, Llano, Mason and San Saba counties,” said chairwoman Toni King. “Our goal is to make this the largest celebration of our veterans in Central Texas, ever.”

King said this is a “wonderful opportunity” for communities to honor veterans and show gratitude to those who have served the country. 

“We encourage you to bring your area veterans on floats,” King said, “as well as your marching bands, your schoolchildren, your Scouts, your ‘kings and queens,’ horse-drawn carriages, your mounted posses, all nonprofit organizations, your city and county officials, and all other patriots who wish to participate. “

The only requirement for floats and vehicles, carriages and horses is that they be decorated in red, white and blue and every individual carry a U.S flag.

King also is requesting all veterans organizations to participate with decorated floats,   color guards, honor guards, drill teams, marching units, equestrian units, all military/POW flags, military vehicles, replicas and memorabilia.

Limited commercial entrants/participants are welcome for a sponsorship fee of $50.  Donations are also needed, organizers said. 

The theme is “Freedom is never free.”

The program will follow the parade at the newly named Veterans Memorial Park, 1600 South Phillips Ranch Road in Granite Shoals, King said.

For more information and/or parade entry form, e-mail King at tonigking@yahoo.com or call (830) 598-6971. Donation checks can be made payable to Annual Veterans Celebration Fund, P.O. Box 2812, Granite Shoals, TX 78654.