Even through the pandemic, the Flint Hills Veterans Coalition has continued to work hard to host it’s annual events.
Veterans day is coming up, and the FHVC tells KMAN the yearly events are still happening. Chuck Sexton, President of FHVC says the parade is one of the biggest events they have each year, and they are happy to still be able to have it this year. He says many events around the country have been cancelled due to the pandemic.
“We’ve been recognized nationally. We’re one of the few that is in-person going to happen. They’re not even having one in Washington this year, they’re not having a live one in New York City, or in Chicago, or in Los Angeles. We are one of the few in the nation and that’s due to the hard work of all the people as well as our great volunteers,” says Sexton.
Janet Nichols, Military Relations Coordinator for the Chamber, adds that this year’s planning has been more difficult than usual, but they were determined.
“It was really touch-and-go for a while there, but a core contingent was like, we are going to make this happen. How do we make this happen? And we are confident that this will be a safe parade, it will be a lot smaller than usual, but it’s going to happen and we’re really happy and excited that it is,” she says.
In honor of the 70th anniversary of the start of the Korean Conflict, this year’s parade theme is “You are not forgotten”. The parade will start at at 9:30AM on November 11, which is Veteran’s Day.
A few adjustments will take place with the parade this year. Sexton says that regular social distancing guidelines and mask mandates will be in effect. He also says there will be limited handouts during the parade and most of the parade participants will be in their cars this year instead of walking.
Along with the parade, the indoor ceremony will still take place as well, but is invite only this year. Sexton says the guest speaker this year will be Dr. Bob Smith who is the Curator of the Fort Riley Museum. Sexton says Dr. Smith has an extensive knowledge of military history. He says that Smith and a few others will speak about Father Emil Kapaun, a Kansas native and Army hero. Kapaun is famous for staying with the sick and wounded prisoners during the Korean war. Nichols talks about how big of a hero Kapaun was.
“Just about every military post I’ve been on has a Kapaun Chapel on it, ours included, up on the hill at Fort Riley. He’s a really big name in the army community, people know who Chaplain Kapaun is and that he’s a Medal of Honor winner, and actually he’s up for Sainthood,” says Nichols.
The ceremony will be streamed on Facebook on the Flint Hills Veterans Coalition page and can be listened to on KMAN.
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