(COLORADO SPRINGS) — The community came together to save the Colorado Springs Veterans Day Parade on Tuesday, Oct. 8, now the parade is under a new organizer.
The parade was canceled on Friday, Oct. 4 by the Colorado Springs Veterans Day Parade Board, who said not enough people signed up. The board said participation had been lower since COVID-19 and cited lack of registration as the main reason why the parade was no longer happening. The announcement came with an overwhelming community response of disappointment.
Within four days of its cancellation, the parade is back on.
“As a proud military city, and home to approximately 90,000 veterans and their families, not having a parade was not an option,” said Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade.
The parade will now be held on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 11 a.m. and is free to join. If you’d like to participate or donate, the parade’s new organizer made a website for both.
“This community is full of military veterans and their families. So, coming together for an event such as a Veterans Day parade (is) not only for this generation but for future generations. To show that we are a military community, and we take pride in our service and our sacrifice,” said Paul Price, the Director of Operations for Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center.
John O’Donnell — the parade’s original organizer — is now leading the effort. O’Donnell had previously led the parade until 1999. When he heard the parade was off, he reached out to the mayor.
“We’re happy to give our time,” said O’Donnell, “We know this thing is going to work and we have a long-term goal, of making this event a destination event in years and years to come.”
O’Donnell’s family started the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, the Festival of Lights Parade, and more. He says the Veterans Day Parade is fully funded for the most part, thanks to private donations and over $28,000 from the city.
“If you’d like to participate, if you’d like to volunteer, please contact the organizers, (or) if you’d like to contribute financially. These are not small feats when we put these kinds of events on,” said Johnna Reeder Kleymeyer, the Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC President & CEO.
According to the board — who originally canceled this year’s parade — it costs about $50,000 to host.
Community members proved that no price is too high to honor those who served our country.
“I urge each and every single Colorado Springs resident and citizen to join us in full force. Let’s line the streets. Let’s wave our flags and let’s cheer on our heroes. Let’s make this year’s parade the biggest and the best yet,” said Mayor Mobolade.
