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100 Years Strong
100
YEARS STRONG
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— CAROLYN QUINN, WARSAW CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Most people assume that the organizers are all Warsaw citizens, but in actuality, the Veterans Celebration Committee is comprised of individuals from all over Duplin County. Towns such as Warsaw, Beulaville, Kenansville, and Magnolia are represented. Te committee also reaches out to people from nearby counties like Sampson, Pender, Onslow, and Lenoir. Tere is even one member from Texas on the committee. Anyone that has a passion for honoring veterans is welcome to be a part of the organizing team.
Te first parade was held on November 11, 1920. Over the years, the Warsaw parade also been named the official
Veterans Day Parade for the state of North Carolina. It was created to celebrate and honor all branches of the military, law enforcement, firemen, and first responders, with a primary focus being the honoring of veterans.
Because Warsaw is on the N.C. Civil War Trail list, and has a very rich military history, the town takes great pride in the celebration.
Of course, 2020 has been a strange year, and many celebrations we are accustomed to participating in have been rescheduled or canceled. Many businesses have closed or had to downsize, many people have been out of work, and life has just been full of changes, challenges and frustrations.
Regardless, the Veterans Celebration Committee continued to keep hope alive and pushed forward with their plans. Carolyn Quinn, Warsaw Chamber of Commerce manager, said, “As for canceling, we have held a positive frame of mind for the parade.”
Te committee added extra precautions into regular planning, which will help ensure the safety of all attendees.
“With guidelines in place for COVID 19, we are incurring extra expenses that are not normally a part of our costs,” stated Quinn.
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Hand sanitizer stations will be on site, and signage will remind attendees to follow social distancing as much as possible and to wear a mask. All adjustments made were recommended by the Duplin County Health Department and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ social distancing mandates. Te community has had a very positive outlook on continuing the celebration, according to Quinn.
“We must continue this proud heritage and tradition of remembering those who gave so much,” she said. “Our men and women are sacrificing for us daily; they pay the price for the freedom that we all hold dear.”
Tis year’s Veterans Day Parade is being held on Saturday, Nov. 7, in downtown Warsaw. Te parade route is 1.5 miles in length. Tere will be extended drop-off locations for various participants, using both sides of the roadway and streets for staging extending the available length to 3 miles to allow for reasonable spacing. Vendors will also be on site starting at 9 a.m., with the memorial service at 10 a.m. Troughout the celebration, spectators can expect to see a parade flyover, parachute jumpers, and much more.
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