LEONARDTOWN, Md. - St. Mary's County Board of Commissioners, the Town of Leonardtown, and parade organizers are inviting the public to come out and salute America's Veterans at the Annual Veterans Day Parade in Leonardtown, on Saturday, November 11, 2006. The parade will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Washington Street and will feature Veterans, dignitaries, elected officials, local school marching bands, military units, color guards, bagpipers, Native American dancers, classic and antique cars, boy and girl scouts, cheerleaders, motorcycles, horses, fire, police, emergency personnel and equipment, and more! Immediately following the parade, spectators are encouraged to remain in the Town Square for a Veterans Memorial Ceremony to include patriotic music, laying of wreaths and the release of peace doves.
Parade participants are requested to arrive between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. Upon arrival, participants should check in with parade coordinators on Washington Street for their line-up assignment. Dignitaries, Veterans, VIP's, Re-enactors, Pipers, School Bands, Color Guards, and Classic Cars should enter the downtown via Fenwick Street, where they will be directed to their assembly area. Motorcycles, Floats, Scouts, Dance Groups, Walking Groups, and Horses should enter the downtown via Lawrence Avenue, where they will be directed to their assembly area. Emergency equipment and other large vehicles will assemble in parking lot "C" of the College of Southern Maryland using the entrance on Route 245.
Spectators, as well as participants, are encouraged to park at the Governmental Center and take the free round-trip St. Mary's County Transit System (STS) shuttle bus service into downtown Leonardtown to view the parade and ceremony. Washington Street into downtown Leonardtown will be closed to incoming traffic from 8:00 a.m. to Noon. To enter the downtown area use Fenwick Street at Ryken Hill from Route 5 (Point Lookout Road). Downtown parking and thru traffic will be limited to areas accessible from Fenwick Street and Lawrence Avenue. Officers of the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Department will provide traffic control, and Parade Volunteers will assist with parking and street detours.
The annual Veterans Day Parade is sponsored by the Commissioners of Leonardtown, the St. Mary's County Board of Commissioners, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2632, California, Maryland. For more information call 301-475-9791 or 301-475-4200 ext. 1340.