The annual Lycoming County Veterans Day Parade will step off this year at 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 10 in Hughesville. It will stage and begin in the area of the Lycoming County Fairgrounds and will continue to the area of the Hughesville High School. The Lycoming County Veterans Day Committee, along with help and support from the Borough of Hughesville, iHeart Media, Backyard Broadcasting and Lamar Advertising, organizes this event.

For many years, beginning in the 1920s, an annual parade was held here in Lycoming County to mark Armistice Day, the end of World War I, this later evolved into a parade recognizing all veterans when the date became known “Veterans Day.” This celebration of patriotism continued until it seemed to fade away in the early 1980s.

It was revived in 2013 at the behest of a committee made up of area veterans put together by and encouraged by then-State Representative Rick Mirabito and groups such iHeart Media. It was decided to rotate the parade among the various communities in Lycoming County. The first revived parade was held in the City of Williamsport on the Saturday nearest to Veterans Day. This year’s parade, of course, is being held in Hughesville and next year’s parade in Montoursville. Beginning in 2020 the parade location will begin its next municipal rotation.

“This year’s parade is especially significant because it will be the commemoration of the centennial of the armistice ending World War I that later became Veterans Day,” Richard Swank, chairman of the parade committee told “Webb Weekly.” “These parades are a great way to show your patriotism and appreciation for our veterans, and we hope a lot of people come out and enjoy the parade.”