U.S. Marine Lt. Gen. Robert B. Neller, poses for a command board photo at Arlington, Va., Aug. 31, 2015. Neller posed for his official command board photo as the 37th Commandant of the Marine Corps. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Gabriela Garcia/Not Released)If you go
› Parade: 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 6, in downtown Chattanooga. The route begins at M.L. King Boulevard and Market Street and follows Market north to Aquarium Way.› Luncheon: Noon Friday, May 6, at Chattanooga Convention Center, 1150 Carter St. Reservations are required. To check on space availability, call Noah Long at 423-645-1952 or email noah@long.net.› For more information: chattareaveterans.com.
A surge of patriotism likely fueled by reverence for the Fallen Five has swelled the ranks of this year’s Armed Forces Day Parade, set for downtown Chattanooga on Friday, May 6.
Parade chairman Bill Norton of the Chattanooga Area Veterans Council says this year’s tribute is the largest, by number of entries, of any military parade in memory, including the parade that opened Chattanooga Unite: Tribute on the River last September. That event, featuring military VIPs and music by national artists, gave citizens a chance to come together to honor the four Marines and one Navy sailor killed in the terrorist attack at the U.S. Naval and Marine Reserve Center on Amnicola Highway on July 16, 2015.
Feelings of patriotism and gratitude still seem to be strong as plans fall into place for the AFD Parade, a spring tradition in Chattanooga.
“This year, we’re at 102 entries,” Norton says. “Usually we run around 80.”