ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball is seeking nominations for the position of Grand Marshal for Howard County’s 8th Annual Veterans Day Parade, set to take place Sunday, November 13th at 9:30 a.m. in Downtown Columbia.
On Veterans Day and every day, we are grateful to the more than 20,000 veterans and their families who call Howard County home. As the son of a Vietnam-era Air Force Veteran, I understand the challenges our Veterans face in protecting our Country. This annual parade demonstrates our support for our local heroes and honors the service of all veterans and their sacrifice to preserve our freedoms.
The honorary title of Grand Marshal is bestowed upon an individual who represents the values and moral fiber of what it means to be a member of Howard County’s veteran and military family community. Past honorees include the late Vivian “Millie” Bailey, 104-year-old WWII African American veteran and community advocate, and the late Edward Lawrence “Larry” Killen, a Vietnam War Navy veteran and Army Reservist and paramedic firefighter who chaired the parade committee from 2015-2019.
To qualify as a nominee for Grand Marshal, the nominee must meet the following minimum requirements:
- Be a current or former Howard County resident, business owner or representative of a Howard County-based business, nonprofit or other recognized legal entity in the state of Maryland.
- Be a Veteran or the immediate family member of a Veteran. Immediate family is defined as a parent, stepparent, spouse, life partner, sibling, child, stepchild, or guardian.
Grand Marshal nominations can be found here and should be emailed to info@howardcountyveterans.org or mailed to: Howard County Veterans Foundation, Inc., ATTN: Parade Committee, Post Office Box 322, Lisbon, MD 21765. Completed nomination forms and supporting proof of service are due by no later than Friday, September 23rd.
In addition to seeking Grand Marshal nominations, the Howard County Veterans Foundation is also looking for community members and groups interested in sponsoring the parade, as well as community groups interested in participating in the parade. To learn about sponsorship opportunities and how to sign your group up to walk in the parade, visit www.howardcountyveterans.org/parade/.
Hosted by the Office of the County Executive, the County’s Office of Veterans and Military Families, Howard County Veterans Foundation and the Columbia Association, Howard County’s annual Veterans Day Parade pays tribute to and honors our community’s veterans and active military servicemembers. This year’s parade will begin at Merriweather Drive and Symphony Woods Road and travel through the Merriweather District to the Downtown Columbia Lakefront. Following its arrival at the lakefront, a brief ceremony will be held at 11:00 a.m.