Ponca City Veteran’s Day Parade and Celebration of Freedom This Saturday
Beverly Cantrell - November 1, 2021 11:26 am
Ponca City Veteran’s Day Parade – Celebration of Freedom-
This year’s 25th Annual Veterans Day Parade has two Grand Marshalls, Tom and Jane Morris. Tom is a Vietnam Veteran who spent two tours in Vietnam flying attacker helicopters. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, The Bronze Star, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry and an Air Medal with 6 oak leaf clusters. In 2016 Tom was diagnosed with cancer due to exposure to Agent Orange. Toms’s wife Jane Edwards Morris, a native of Ponca City, was the first female to attend a US Naval Aviation Flight Training in Pensacola Florida. After separating from military service, she became the first female 747 Captain for United Airlines flying transcontinental flights. They are both now retired and reside in Ponca City.
Those honored this year include the late Chuck Gregg, a former Marine who served in Vietnam and founder of the Ponca City Veterans Day Parade, the late Kurt Yeary a WWII Veteran and former POW, Joe Day a highly decorated Vietnam Veteran, and the late Dr. Glassock, a WWII Veteran who endured D-Day. Both Day and Dr. Glassock have served as parade grand marshalls in past parades in Ponca City. The late Jake McNeese a WWII Veteran and part of the demolition saboteur crew, known as the Filthy 13, which became the inspiration for the movie “The Dirty Dozen”, will also be honored. In 1949, McNiece returned to live in Ponca City and began a 28-year career with the United States Postal Service.
After the Parade, the Celebration of Freedom takes place at War Memorial Park, north of Highland between 5th and 7th streets. The event includes music, history, children’s activities, re-enactors, military memorabilia, “Heros of Ponca City”, a traditional Native American Blessing of the park by Ponca Tribal member Micheal Littlevoice, Performance Painter Mike Debuss, and food and fun for everyone! Commemorative Parade buttons can be purchased by non-military, which includes a BBQ dinner, for just $10. All Veterans eat FREE!!
Proceeds from the buttons support the annual parade project.
Veterans Services is inviting all veterans to tour the Veteran’s Services tent after lunch. Various organizations and entities will be on hand to assist and inform veterans of the services and opportunities available to them.
The annual raffle ticket sales for a chance to win an Armed Forces Commemorative Tribute Henry rifle and display case are going on now to benefit the Annual Veterans Day Parade and Celebration of Freedom. You can purchase tickets at the VFW Flea Market at 2821 E Prospect on Sundays from 7 am to 1 pm thru November and at most area banks and credit unions now. Ticket prices are 1 for $10, 3 for $25, 7 for $50, or 15 for $100.
The drawing will be held on December 21, 2021.
To sign up for the Ponca City Veterans’ Day Parade use the link below. Print the form or submit it online.
Paper forms can be picked-up at Heather Cannon Honda, Equity Bank and the Ponca City Chamber office at 5th and Grand.
Check Ponca City Veterans Day Parade – Celebration of Freedom on Facebook for more details.
You don’t have to be a citizen of Ponca City to participate or attend one of the LARGEST Veteran’s Day Parades in Oklahoma. Everyone is welcomed and encouraged to attend, Saturday, November, 6th! Mark it on your calendar. The parade starts at 10:45 a.m.
Come honor all those who have served and continue to serve!
Live parade coverage will be broadcast with announcers Sean Anderson and Mike Seals on 99.3 FM Classic Hits KLOR. Live video stream available online at poncacitynow.com/tv.
The broadcast is brought to you by Ponca City Energy.
