Three local veterans have been selected as grand marshals of the third annual Patrick County Veterans Parade and Program, scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 14, in Stuart.
Clyde Thomas, Bill Hines and Jim McHone will lead this year’s parade, which begins at 1 p.m. The event is sponsored by Patrick County’s six Ruritan clubs.
Pamela Smith, 2026 Dan River District governor and a member of the Stuart, Ararat and Woolwine Community Ruritan clubs, said organizers decided to recognize three veterans this year in honor of the nation’s 250th anniversary of independence.
“We’ve been having two grand marshals, so this year they decided to do three,” she said.
Thomas served in the U.S. Army from 1963 to 1965 after being drafted. He was a medical corpsman with the 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii.
Hines served in the Army from 1963 to 1966, while McHone served six years in the Army National Guard.
Smith said all three veterans have been involved in the annual event since its inception.
They’ve all “played an integral part in the program and parade over the years. Really good, deserving fellas for sure,” she said.
Parade participants will begin lining up at noon on Wood Brothers Drive near the intersection with Blue Ridge Street.
The parade will follow the traditional Christmas parade route, traveling along Blue Ridge Street before turning onto Main Street. It will conclude at the stoplight in downtown Stuart.
Following the parade, a Veterans Day program will begin at 2 p.m. at Rotary Field.
“We are encouraging people in the parade route and the visitors to just keep on going over there to Rotary Field since that’s where our program will be held,” Smith said.
The program will include participation by the Patrick County Honor Guard, with County Administrator Michael McGuinness serving as keynote speaker.
Refreshments will be available for veterans and other attendees.
“This year we’re going to have refreshments for anyone who comes and the veterans. Both the parade and the program will be livestreamed on Facebook, so anyone who can’t make it out is welcome to watch it,” Smith said.
In the event of inclement weather, the program at Rotary Field will still be held, even if the parade is canceled.
There is no fee to participate in the parade, and Smith said participation is open to anyone wishing to recognize a veteran or honor the memory of someone who served.
“They can call us for more information (276-229-6931), but basically veteran or not, just want to honor a veteran or honor the memory of a veteran or whatever, just show up there. We’ll be lining up in the right-hand lane there of Wood Brothers Drive,” she said.
A registration tent will be set up in the Stuart Volunteer Fire Department parking lot. Participants will not need to enter the lot, as volunteers will approach vehicles and floats to collect information for parade announcements and the livestream.
“Just so that the P.A. speaker and Facebook Live will have the information of who’s in the parade and if they’re honoring someone,” Smith said.
Organizers also are encouraging spectators to bring signs expressing appreciation for veterans.
“To let the veterans who are in the parade know they’re appreciated. We really think that would add to it for the veterans to see that as they’re going along the parade route,” Smith said.
