Tulsa, Okla. — The 99th Annual Tulsa Veterans Day Parade is happening this morning at 11 a.m.
Organizers told KRMG the parade was scheduled on the day before Veterans Day to allow schools to take students on a field to see it. Holding the parade Friday also allows for school bands to participate.
The theme of this year’s parade is “Generations of Service” honoring veterans of all ages.
For the first time, the Tulsa Veterans Day Parade will include an F-16 flyover by the Oklahoma Air National Guard 138th Fighter Wing.
According to 2017 Veterans Day Parade President Joshua Starks, the Tulsa parade is the largest free parade in the country.
The honorees this year are: William “Bill” Grisez (WW II POW 82nd Airborne, Army Air
Corps) Grand Marshall, age 94; Gordon Coleman, (U.S. Navy Korea) Parade Chief of Staff; Mitch
Reed (U.S. Army Vietnam 2 Purple Hearts & 1 Bronze Star) Parade Commander; Christina “Tina”
Smith (U.S. Army Reserve Vietnam & Post Cold War era MSG Retired), Parade Adjutant.