The Paducah Park Services Department and the Veterans Day Planning Committee invite the public to attend the Veterans Day Parade Opening Ceremony and Parade on Friday, November 11.  The opening ceremony begins at 10:30 a.m. at the gazebo at 2nd and Broadway.  The parade begins at 11:00 a.m. at 2nd and Broadway and disbands at 17th and Broadway.  Live coverage of the parade begins at 11:00 a.m. on Paducah-2 (channel 2 for Comcast subscribers) and will be re-televised on Government 11.

The parade has 35 entries including four bands:  Paducah Tilghman, Heath, Lone Oak, and Reidland High Schools.  More than 2000 students will line Broadway to watch the parade.  Schools planning to bring students include Clark, Farley, Community Christian Academy, Lone Oak Middle, and Lyon County.

For the opening ceremony, former Paducah Mayor Albert Jones will be the emcee.  During the ceremony, the Paducah-McCracken County Distinguished Veteran for 2011 will be introduced and will serve as the grand marshal in the parade.  Royce Dukes with Oaklawn Baptist Church will lead the crowd in prayer, and the Singsations, the 5th grade choral group from Concord Elementary, will sing the National Anthem.  The winners of the Veterans Day Essay contest will be introduced, and the first place winners will read their essays for the crowd. 

Veterans Day Essay Contest Winners:

K-2

1st place: Dustin Howle, Heath Elementary

2nd place: Darcy White, Heath Elementary

3rd place: Reece Burnett, Heath Elementary

3-5

1st place: Austin Walker, Concord Elementary

2nd place: Emily Pace, Concord Elementary

3rd place: Jack Wright, Concord Elementary

Honorable Mentions: Preston Youngblood, Concord Elementary; Lexi Pitchford, Lone Oak Elementary; and Gabriel Byers, Farley Elementary

6-8

1st place: Kierstyn Stevens, Lone Oak Middle

2nd place: Julia Adams, Lone Oak Middle

3rd place: Lexi Moore, Lone Oak Middle

Honorable Mention: Lauren Ramos, Heath Middle

9-12

1st place: Miles Butler, PTHS

2nd place: Corey Knight, LOHS

3rd place: Jacob Blankenship, PTHS

Honorable Mentions: Mary Greer, LOHS and Brittany Osborne, LOHS

For more information about the Veterans Day Parade and Paducah Parks Services, visit  www.paducahky.gov or call 444-8508.

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