2017 Lakeland Veterans Day Parade To Honor World War I

LAKELAND, FL – To honor the 100th anniversary of United States’ entry into World War I, Polk County will join together on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

It was that exact moment in 1918 when the armistice was signed between the Allied forces and Germany in Compiegne, France. And on that exact moment this year, two things will happen: Bells will toll across Polk County and the 2017 Lakeland Veterans Day Parade will take its first step.

Before the parade begins, the Polk County Veterans Council will host a ceremony at 10 a.m. in Veteran’s Memorial Park, 141 Lake Beulah Drive. The ceremony will also commemorate the World War I anniversary.

The Veterans Day Parade will start at the RP Funding Center, 701 W. Lime St., then travel east along Lemon Street into downtown Lakeland. The parade will turn north on Kentucky Avenue and end in the Munn Park parking lot.

“It is with great pleasure that we honor our veterans during this special day,” said Gary Clark, the chairman of the Polk County Veterans Council. “I hope that we line the downtown streets and show our veterans just how much we appreciate their service to our country.”

The parade will feature veterans groups, JROTC units, Sea Cadets, CAP Cadets, Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts and other entries.

According to Rao Angelo, the City of Lakeland manager of traffic operations, veterans with formal Purple Heart license plates can park in any regular on and off-street public parking space in downtown Lakeland free of charge during the event.

For more information on the Lakeland Veterans Day Parade and the Polk Veterans Council, visit www.polkveteranscouncil.com.

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