photo by: Shawn Valverde

Two children help carry a banner thanking veterans at the Lawrence Veterans Day Parade on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023.

Lawrence’s Veterans Day Parade is back for its seventh year, but this weekend’s event will have a slightly new look. The parade has changed its direction, and will start at South Park and head north on Massachusetts Street.

The parade is set for 11 a.m. on Saturday in downtown Lawrence. Rev. Verdell Taylor will serve as the parade’s grand marshal. Taylor is a U.S. Army veteran, former pastor and a current staff member at LMH Health.

The parade will feature a host of veterans from all branches of the military, and also will include several historic military vehicles. A flyover of the parade route also is expected, although an organizer of the parade told the Journal-World it likely would be by a private plane, as the military has cut back on its flyover events during this time of high alert due to world affairs.

In addition to the grand marshal, the parade also will honor two Lawrence High graduates are distinguished veterans. Don “Red Dog” Gardner will be honored for his service in the Marine Corps, the Lawrence Police Department, and his work to start a community exercise program. Dr. Lonny Snodgrass will be recognized for his unique service in the U.S. Army Reserves, where he enlisted at the age of 63 because he knew the service was seeking physicians with his speciality. Snodgrass is believed to be the oldest American to join the U.S. Army Reserves.

The parade is hosted by a nonprofit association, which does fundraising for the event and expects to provided donations to other other nonprofit entities that provide assistance to veterans.