Emporia has a lot of parades, but unlike a lot of communities large and small, it hasn’t had an Independence Day parade. Until this year.
Emporia will have a parade at 9:30 am July 3. Organizer Clay Childs says plans are pending, but some details are coming together.
Childs says there is one main thing behind the parade plan this year.
The official announcement of the July 3 parade was part of a KVOE’s Newsmaker conversation Tuesday about Wreaths Across America, which has already gained more than half the sponsorships needed to place live wreaths on every veteran’s grave at Maplewood Memorial Lawn Cemetery this upcoming December. Childs says almost 1,600 wreaths have been secured, meaning less than 900 wreaths are needed for that purpose. Organizer Ashley Mitchell says there is a groundswell of community support.
Organizer Richelle Birk says there may be another special information event later this year, much like the one that took place at the Fairground shortly before the Wreaths Across America Day last December.
The Veterans Legacy Fund through the Emporia Community Foundation started with a $2,500 Pay it Forward grant from DeVaughn James Injury Lawyers and TV-13. It will be used to fund different veteran-related community events.
Residents interested in sponsoring a wreath can go through the American Legion and have that $17 purchase add $5 towards purchases of other wreaths. Organizers are encouraging other sponsorship efforts to develop as well. People wanting to donate through the Legion can get more information at emporialegion.org.
