WELCH, W.Va. – American Legion Post 8, Welch WV under the leadership of Commander Phil Law announces that he and the Veterans Day Committee have been working vigorously preparing for the 102nd Veterans Day Parade. The theme for this year’s parade is “Remembering those who served.”
The parade route for this year has to be changed in order to meet the WV DHHR guidelines for parades. The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, Bureau for Public Health continues to respond to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in West Virginia. BPH is working closely with communities, state agencies, local and federal partners to monitor the ongoing risk of COVID-19 and ensure the health and protection of all individuals in West Virginia.
To help prevent spread of COVID-19 at parades, procedures should be in place to encourage proper social distancing of participants and spectators.
A recommendation provided by the WVDHHR is to consider a non-traditional parade, such as having participants line up in an area and spectators drive by, staying in their cars. In order to meet this recommendation, we have reconsidered our line up site and parade route to provide the best protection for both spectators and participants.
It is also recommended that sponsor should discourage throwing candy or other items to spectators along the parade route. Therefore, we ask that no participants throw out candy or other items to spectators along the parade route.
Floats and ride-on units with participants should limit the number of participants to allow for proper social distancing and wear face coverings.
The parade route for this year’s parade is as follows:
Position assignment will be given out at the line up location which will be lower McDowell Street at the intersection of McDowell Street and Wyoming Street near Tug Tower bridge. All parade units will be lined up on McDowell Street from the Flat Iron Drug Store to the American Legion Post 8 Building. Units participating in the parade will remain stationery in assigned position. The public (spectators) who wishes to view the parade will drive their vehicle in the open lane up McDowell Street. Spectators are not to get out of their vehicle. We discourage participants and/or spectators from stopping or the public gathering/congregating along the parade route.
It is recommended for everyone to wear facial coverings, i.e. masks during this event.
The parade will be held on Wednesday, November 11, 2020 from 10:00 a.m. -11:00 noon.
All participants should be at the line up area by 9:15 a.m.
We invite all school cheerleaders, athletes, school clubs, civic clubs, church groups, other veteran organizations, and any other groups that may want to participate in the parade. This year all participants must be in a vehicle or on a float. Anyone wanting to enter an antique vehicle needs to call and register the vehicle. Antique Vehicles will be assigned to a parking space on the parking lot of the WV Department of Motor Vehicles for public view.
Please contact Pam Akers at Welch City Hall at 304-436-3113 or call Jim Spence at 304-436-4957 to get registered for your participation in this year’s parade.
Due to these newly implemented guidelines there will not be any Veterans Day program at the reviewing stand this year.