KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --
Keesler honors past and current service members by taking active roles in area Veterans Day observances.
The 14th annual Gulf Coast Veterans Parade is scheduled for 11 a.m., Nov. 8 in Biloxi. Tech. Sgt. Percy Fish III, 81st Training Group military training flight chief, is representing Keesler on the planning committee. The parade has been recognized by the Department of Veterans Affairs as a regional site for the seventh consecutive year.
Base leadership, student marching groups, honor guard, drum and bugle corps, 50-state flag team and the 403rd Wing's "Lil' Bill" are joining the parade along with other bands, floats, marching teams and antique military vehicles.
The route begins at the IP Casino Resort and travels south on Caillavet Street, east on Esters Boulevard and south on Lameuse Street to the reviewing stand in front of Biloxi City Hall. It ends at the Biloxi Town Green with the second annual Red, White and Blue on the Green Festival with food, music and vendors.
Keesler is also involved in several other local Veterans Day observances:
Nov. 7 - 10:50 a.m., honor guard participates in Biloxi Veterans Affairs Medical Center "Salute to Our Veterans."
Nov. 9 - 10:15 a.m., honor guard presents the colors at the Veterans Day celebration at New Horizon Ministries in Moss Point.
Nov. 9 - 1 p.m., honor guard marches in Long Beach Veterans Day Parade.
Nov. 10 - 11 a.m., honor guard posts colors at Veterans Day assembly at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Jackson County Campus, Gautier.
Nov. 10 - 1:15 p.m., Col. Susan Airola-Skully, 81st Mission Support Group commander, speaks at Biloxi High School's Veterans Day ceremony.
Nov. 10 - 1 p.m. and 2:05 p.m., Lt. Col. Jeffrey McLemore, 81st Training Group deputy commander, speaks at Veterans Day assemblies at Ocean Springs Middle School.
Nov. 11 - 11 a.m., color guard and rifle team participate at American Legion Post 119's Veterans Day ceremony at Veterans War Memorial Park next to the historic train depot in Gulfport.
Nov. 11 - 4:30 p.m., honor guard represents the Air Force at the D'Iberville Parish Salute to the Military in Plaquemine, Louisiana.