The 65th annual Warren County Fourth of July Parade Committee is inviting all veterans in the area to participate in the Honoring Our Heroes division at the front of the parade.
Honoring Our Heroes Chairman Jim Whyte said veterans who are unable to walk the one-mile parade route will be given a ride and any veterans attending the parade can join at any time.
"The whole first division in the parade now will be nothing but veterans," Whyte said. "Any branch of the armed forces, it's not just the Marine Corps, Army, Navy ... anyone that has served in the armed forces."
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Pops by the Fountain
The Warren Philharmonic, under the direcion of Bryan Eckenrode, performed an open air concert in Warren on Thursday evening. Featuring Cristen Gregory, soprano, as well as students from the Warren County Summer Music School, the event drew several hundred people to Second Avenue for the performance.
Whyte said he is hoping for 200 to 300 veterans to participate from different veterans organizations from areas outside Warren, including Erie, Clarion, Bradford and New York State.
Veteran organizations can participate in the parade by filling out a registration form available online at www.warrenpajuly4th.com, at the American Legion, the VFW, or can walk out into the procession during the parade.
A flatbed trailer will go through the parade with chairs on it, and if a veteran can't walk, Whyte said, "That trailer will stop to pick them up."
"Symbol of Our Freedom" placards are available for $1 at locations around Warren County including the Eagles Club, American Legion, Applebee's, Perkins Restaurant, The Bullpen, Andy's Bar, Cornerstone Lounge, and Ralph E's Pub. The donations for the placards will be used to cover expenses for the parade and can be signed with a name, which will be put on a board that will be displayed at Betts Park.