A color guard led by the GEO Group Honor Guard, Boy Scout Troops 214 and 401 and the Kingman Young Marines guide more than 50 entries for the 2024 Kingman Veterans Day Parade. Photo by Aaron Ricca
KINGMAN – The 2024 Kingman Veterans Day Parade was the first since the Kingman Downtown Streetscape Project was completed in June.
More than 50 entries of trucks (military and civilian), classic cars, motorcycles and foot-based participants representing multiple organizations had the opportunity to cruise, stroll and march down a rejuvenated Beale Street after last year’s detour along Oak Street during the renovation construction. The smoother, wider sidewalks and new benches provided more wiggle room and seating for roughly 2,000 spectators.
That revitalization was a huge improvement for parade and pedestrian traffic.
“I think it allowed more room in a more comfortable environment,” said Kingman Area Veterans Association President Maggie Stanley. “It was a nice, clean, modern path for the parade.”
Saturday’s show was organized by the Kingman Area Veterans Association and their crew of eight board members and a group led by Stanley, a U.S. Army veteran.
The entries staged at Lee Williams High School at around 7:30 a.m. to sign in for a chilly and breezy 10:00 a.m. start time. The parade lasted about an hour, just in time for some of those leaving the show to grab some downtown grub and maybe do some shopping.
Approximately 30 volunteers from various organizations such as Kingman Veterans Court, Jerry Ambrose Veterans Council, Disabled American Veterans, American Legion, Kingman Young Marines and Kingman Marine Corps League, GEO Group and random citizens helped with registration, traffic control, guiding the parade down the streets and passing out water for thirsty spectators.
“We were just trying to make everyone safe and comfortable,” Stanley said.
There were 53 entries this year.
“We doubled the participants compared to last year’s 20,” she added.
There has always been some confusion about the parade dates. It’s a combination of what day Nov. 11 actually falls on, the availability of entrees and participants, KAVA staff, volunteers and the best time for spectators to enjoy the show.
In Kingman, if Veterans Day falls between Monday and Wednesday, the parade will be on the Saturday before. If it falls on Thursday or Friday, the parade will be on the Saturday after.
“The participants and volunteers don’t always get the day off,” Stanley said. “You pretty much have to be a government employee to get the day off. In order to include the entire community, we chose to have the parade on a weekend to honor our veterans.”
Stanley took the reins of the Veterans Day Parade from the Kingman Downtown Merchants Association last year. She’s also a mentor coordinator for the Kingman Veterans Court, one of many veteran organizations and resources in the community that contributes to the parade.
Stanley plans to continue to make the parade a better spectacle as long as she has the input and efforts of KAVA members, the community and numerous sponsors (she got double the sponsors from last year) from throughout the community to put the show together.
“The sponsors allow us to comfortably organize the parade,” she said. “Along with moving forward to assist other veterans and veteran organizations and prepare for 2025.”
To see more photos of the parade, check out the Kingman Area Veterans Association Facebook page.
Aaron Ricca
