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Our Story

23 Years of parade history

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The Gulf Coast Veterans Parade shares a long, rich history with local residents and the business community.

Learn more about our legacy by exploring the timeline below and a Special Tribute Section highlighted by the Hall of Fame history of Grand Marshals.

1999

In late 1999, Mary Ellen Landry contacted Donna Leach Yates and
Lt. Col. (ret) Dick E. Wilson with a proposed plan to form a committee to organize an annual Veterans Parade to be held on the Mississippi Gulf Coast on or near the observance of National Veterans Day.

The three met with the executive director of the Biloxi Chamber of Commerce
and the beginning of Mississippi’s first Annual Veterans Parade was born.

The Parade would be held on the closest Saturday to the November 11th Veterans
Day federal observance honoring military veterans. The date was set on a
Saturday to provide an opportunity for school age children to learn civic pride,
participate and attend the parade, as well as promote business for downtown
merchants and store owners.

Ms. Landry and Yates were elected by the committee to serve as co-chairs for the first Veterans Parade. The Mississippi Gulf Coast towns of Biloxi and Gulfport both agreed to host the parade on alternating years.

2000

In 2000, it was determined that the City of Gulfport was the best prepared at the time to host the first Veterans Parade on Saturday, November 11, 2000. The committee chose Vietnam Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, Major General James E Livingston, (Ret.), United States Marine Corps as the first Veterans Parade Grand Marshal. The theme for the 2000 Parade paid tribute to the Silver Anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War.

2001

With patriotic feelings at an all-time high following the September 11 attacks on American soil, plans quickly materialized for the 2nd Annual Veterans Parade. Once again, Gulfport played host and the parade was held on Saturday, November 10, 2001, in tribute to the nation’s recipients of the Purple Heart. Lieutenant General Bryan Shotts, (Ret.), United States Air Force former Keesler Air Force Base commander, served as the Parade Grand Marshal. Colonel (ret) Kirby Bernich was elected as the first president of the newly formed Board of Directors for the Mississippi Gulf Coast Veterans Parade.

2002

In 2002, the parade board and committee members continued to draw interest and support. The 3rd Annual Veterans Parade was held in the City of Biloxi in tribute to the Silver Star Medal for Valor Recipients. Lieutenant General Clark Griffith, (Ret.), United States Air Force former 2nd Air Force Commander, at Keesler Air Force Base served as the Parade Grand Marshal. Sadly, prior to the 2002 parade, the first parade president, Colonel Kirby Bernich passed.

Maj. Gen. James Garner, (Ret.) former Mississippi Adjutant General and parade board member was elected as the new President of the Veterans Parade. Lt. Colonel Dick Wilson was elected Vice-President and Ms. Donna Yates was employed as the Executive Director.

Tribute Section

The 2024 Gulf Coast Veterans Parade will be held on Saturday, November 9th in Biloxi, MS.
Click here for the parade route.

Our Story

23 Years of parade history

The Gulf Coast Veterans Parade shares a long, rich history with local residents and the business community.

Learn more about our legacy by exploring the timeline below and a Special Tribute Section highlighted by the Hall of Fame history of Grand Marshals.

A Tribute

We honor and remember those

who have given selflessly with exceptional

service to our organization.

Boomtown Casino

People's Bank

Reimann Funeral Home

Hard Rock Casino

Bradford-O'Keefe F/H

Palace Casino Resort

Mattina Insurance

MS Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce

The 2024 Gulf Coast Veterans Parade will be held on Saturday, November 9th in Biloxi, MS. Click here for the parade route.

Our Story

23 Years of parade history

The Gulf Coast Veterans Parade shares a long, rich history with local residents and the business community. Learn more about our legacy by exploring the timeline below and a Special Tribute Section highlighted by the Hall of Fame history of Grand Marshals.

A Tribute

We honor and remember those

who have given selflessly with exceptional

service to our organization.

The 2024 Gulf Coast Veterans Parade will be held on Saturday, November 9th in Biloxi, MS.
Click here for the parade route.

The Gulf Coast Veterans Parade shares a long, rich history with local residents and the business community.

Learn more about our legacy by exploring the timeline below and a Special Tribute Section highlighted by the Hall of Fame history of Grand Marshals.