Mayor Thomas M. McDermott, Jr. and the City of Hammond will celebrate its 9th Annual Veteran Appreciation Day parade on Saturday, November 5th at 10 a.m. in Hammond’s 5th and 6th Districts. The parade route travels from Olcott Avenue, down 173rd Street and ends at the Hessville Park Veterans Memorial.
Some of the parade participants include members of local American Legions and VFW posts, musical entertainment from area high school bands, military vehicles, Those Funny Little People, and a flyover by the Lima Lima Flight Team.
This year’s Grand Marshal is Sergeant Boyzie Coulter, U.S. Marine Corps. Boyzie enlisted in U.S. Marine Corps in February of 1983. He served 12 years from February of 1983 to June of 1995, and attained the rank of Sergeant. Sergeant Coulter served several tours including Operation Just Cause (Security operation in Panama), Operation Desert Shield/Operation Desert Storm (liberation of Kuwait in Southwest Asia), Operation Sea Angel (humanitarian efforts in Bangladesh, India), Operation Quick Draw/Continue Hope (Somalia, Africa), Operation Cease-fire Campaign and Red Reef V (Southwest Asia). During Boyzie’s time in the U.S. Marine Corps, he worked as a Nuclear Weapons Security Guard, Fire Team Leader / Squad Leader / Marksmanship Instructor, Squad Leader/Platoon Guide, Drill Instructor, and Platoon Sergeant. Boyzie was hired into the Hammond Police Department in February of 1997, and has served as a Field Training Officer, Evidence Technician, and on the SWAT Team. He was awarded Officer of the Year in 2000 and 2013. Boyzie currently serves as a Master Patrol Sergeant in the Patrol Division. He has been married to his wife, Robin, for over 37 years and they have three adult children.
Join us to honor veterans with a short program to immediately follow the parade at the Hessville Park Veteran Memorial at 173rd Street & Kennedy Avenue.
For more information on participating or sponsoring the parade, contact the Hammond Parks & Recreation at (219) 853-7708 or visit www.gohammond.com. To enter your organized group into the parade, fill out the online entry form here: http://www.gohammond.com/vadppf.