Veterans Parade Organizers Seek More Participation

SEBRING - Organizers for the third annual Veterans Day Parade in Sebring are looking for more groups to add their floats.

Howard Jenkins, the veterans representative from Heartland Workforce and a chief organizer behind the parade, said that he has 30 floats committed so far for the Nov. 11 celebration. He said there was "plenty of time" to get more commitments for the floats.

Last year, he estimated at least 3,000 spectators filled downtown Sebring to watch.

Last year's parade had 63 floats, while the inaugural one hosted 44 entries.

He said he was looking for veterans groups, city officials, other service groups, businesses and anybody else who could put a float together.

Jenkins said Friday that he already has several veterans groups agreeing to participate, naming V.F.W. Post 4300 in Sebring and American Legion Post 25 in Lake Placid, among others. He also said Toby The Clown would be there, and he was particularly looking forward to a fly-over planned early during the parade.

"Not too many times in Highlands County" do we have fly-overs, he said.

The parade is set to begin 3 p.m. that day at Sebring Middle School, and should proceed along Ridgewood Drive and the Circle before ending at Firemen's Field.

Those interested in getting more information, or those interested in participating in the parade should call Jenkins at the Heartland Workforce One-Stop Career Center, at 382-3672 Ext. 231.