Organizers with the American Legion Post 297, Union, are finishing up the final plans for Monday’s Memorial Day Parade and ceremony.
Missouri Veterans Commission Executive Director Larry D. Kay will be the keynote speaker during the event.
The annual Memorial Day Parade and service begin at 10 a.m. in downtown Union Monday, May 28. Following the parade, there will be a service to honor veterans at the American Legion Post 297 Home located at 205 N. Washington Ave.
During the event there will be performances by the Union High School Red and Black Brigade Marching Band, the East Central College Children’s Choir and the 399th Army Band from Fort Leonard Wood.
Guest Speaker
Kay joined the Missouri Veterans Commission as deputy director in September of 2006 and was promoted to executive director in August 2008.
He was born in California, Mo., and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Westminster College, a master’s degree in health services management from the University of Missouri-Columbia, and a master’s of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.
In his military career of over 31 years, Kay is a combat veteran of Desert Storm serving as the executive officer for the 1267th Medical Company (Air Ambulance) 1990-1991.
He and his wife, Karen, reside in Boonville and have three children, James, Anna, and Grady.
Parade Route
All nonpolitical entries are welcome to participate in the parade which will be led by the American Legion Post 297 Honor Guard.
Assembly for the parade will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the southeast corner of Locust and Church streets. Entries will line up along Locust Street leading back toward the Union Memorial Auditorium.
This year, those participating in the parade but not the program will be diverted at North Christina Avenue and State Street. Those participating in the program will continue to the American Legion Post 297 Home.
The parade route will be the same as in past years. It is as follows:
• From the intersection of Locust and Church streets, the parade will travel north on Church Street to Main Street;
• West on Main Street to Oak Street;
• South on Oak Street to Locust Street;
• West on Locust Street to Washington Avenue;
• North on Washington Avenue to Main Street;
• West on Main Street to Christina Street;
• North on Christina Street to State Street; and
• East on State Street to the American Legion Post 297 Home.
