KINGMAN – In spite of downtown road construction, crowds of people lined the streets along the shortened route for the annual Veterans Day Parade in downtown Kingman on Saturday, November 11.
With 38 entries, there was something for everyone, including restored military and other antique vehicles, political candidates, first responders, Girl Scouts, 4H, Mohave County Sheriff, Mohave County Search and Rescue and Volunteer Posse and, of course, plenty of candy being thrown to the crowd.
Parade Organizer, Maggie Stanley, President of KAVA (Kingman Areas Veterans Association) stated she is very proud of how the parade turned out and the number of people who came to see the parade.
This is the first year for KAVA being in charge of the annual event. Stanley is a U.S. Army veteran and KAVA Vice-President, Amber Koehler, is an Air Force Veteran.
“I am just so honored to have the team that I have and the volunteers that I have,” stated Stanley. “The volunteers and everybody just put so much time into this so that we could honor our veterans.” Stanley added that her father was a World War II Veteran and it is part of the circle of life and paying it forward.
The parade had Co-Grand Marshals, 88-year-old Navy Veteran, Robert Ritz and Sergeant Major Wesley Maroney with Janet De Nublio, widow of Marine Veteran, Paul De Nublio who served in Korea and Vietnam. De Nublio passed away about a month ago.
Girl Scout Leader, Catherine Normoyle, stated the Girl Scouts have participated in the annual Veterans Day parade for 15 years, the same number of years she has been a leader.
“It is just a small way that we show gratitude toward our veterans and thanking them for their service to us,” explained Normoyle. “We teach about our U.S. Constitution and our freedoms …as well as our Girl Scout law. “
She added that many of the older girls have gone on to join the military based on the core values taught in Girl Scouts.
Becky Foster
