Limited version of 2020 Wyoming Valley Veterans Day Parade approved

Sep. 17--WILKES-BARRE -- The show must go on.

That's what Wilkes-Barre Mayor George Brown said Wednesday when he announced the 76th annual Wyoming Valley Veterans Day Parade will still take place this year, but in a very limited fashion due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"There is no way after 75 years, we are not going to honor our veterans," Brown said during the parade committee's monthly meeting. "If we have to drive around in police and fire vehicles waving flags, we are going to have a parade."

At last month's meeting, Brown said he was inclined to cancel the Nov. 8 parade that was held every year since 1945 to honor veterans returning home from World War II.

Recently, at a special online meeting Brown couldn't make, the committee's officers made the call that the parade needed to be canceled to avoid attracting crowds.

Afterward, Brown said he spoke with the city's police and fire chiefs and they decided they could proceed with a small, all-vehicle parade limited to the streets of Wilkes-Barre.

Traditionally, the parade starts on Market Street in Kingston and ends on Public Square in Wilkes-Barre.

The committee on Wednesday decided to approve Brown's alternative parade idea.

There will be no marchers or civic groups that normally dominate the parade's lineup.

An exact route is still being decided, but Brown envisions a giant U.S. flag unfurled above Public Square.

Organizers also are trying to determine if others -- like those with classic military vehicles or patriotic motorcycle groups -- will be allowed to take part.

"It's not going to be big and bright, but it's going to be a parade," Brown said.

Contact the writer:

bkalinowski@citizensvoice.com 570-821-2055; @cvbobkal

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