Keesler, local area gears up for Veteran's Day Published Nov. 8, 2012 By Susan Griggs 81st Training Wing Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Keesler representatives are actively involved in many Veterans Day observances along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The biggest of these events, the 12th annual Gulf Coast Veterans Parade, takes place at 11 a.m. Saturday in downtown Gulfport. Tech. Sgt. Shaun Wilke, 81st Training Group, is Keesler's representative on the parade planning committee. "Keesler will be well represented with 81st Training Wing commander, Brig. Gen. Brad Spacy, and vice commander Col. Rene Romero," Wilke said. "Other marching units include our honor guard, the 50 state flags carried by the 334th Training Squadron, student marching groups from the 335th and 336th Training Squadrons and the training group's drum and bugle corps. Staff Sgt. Karen Moore from the 403rd Wing is the National Anthem singer. "We hope many Keesler people will bring their families and line the parade route," Wilke added. The parade starts at the intersection of 29th Avenue and 13th Street and moves east on 13th Street, south on 24th Avenue, east on U.S. Highway 90 frontage road, north on 23rd Avenue, west on 15th Street, south on 24th Avenue, west on 14th Street, ending at Hancock Bank Plaza at the train depot. The reviewing stand is at Gulfport City Hall on 15th Street. Other observances: Today 1 p.m. -- Lt. Col. Brad McAlpine, 335th TRS commander, speaks at the Biloxi High School Veterans Day program. Friday 10:45 a.m. -- Spacy speaks and the honor guard participates in a Veterans Day event sponsored by the Knights of Columbus at the Biloxi Veterans Affairs Medical Center. 6 p.m. Friday, honor guard and National Anthem singer perform at the Mississippi Surge Hockey Veterans Day event. Saturday 3 p.m. -- Honor guard marches in the Louisiana Bicentennial Military Parade in New Orleans. Sunday 11 a.m. -- Honor guard participates in the 2nd annual Salute to the Military at First Missionary Baptist Church, Gulfport, 2nd annual Salute to the Military. Noon -- Chaplain (Capt.) John Schuetze participates in a ceremony honoring military veterans at a quarterly general membership meeting at Congregation Beth Israel, Gulfport. 1 p.m. -- Long Beach Veterans Day Parade; honor guard. 4 p.m. -- One honor guard member participates in a joint service color guard for the Iberville Parish (La.) Veterans Day ceremony. 11 a.m. -- Col. Paul Nelson, 81st Aerospace Medicine Squadron, speaks at the Biloxi American Legion Post 33 Veterans Day ceremony at the Purple Heart Memorial at the Biloxi Small Craft Harbor. Monday 10 a.m. -- 336th TRS drill team performs during the opening ceremony during a Veterans Day open house at the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Gulfport. 11 a.m. -- Honor guard performs a 21-gun salute at the American Legion Post 119 Veterans Day ceremony in Gulfport. 5:30 p.m. -- Honor guard participates in the Veterans Day ceremony at Greenbriar Nursing Home, Biloxi.