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Wichita Veterans Day parade honors current, former service members

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BY KAREN SHIDELER

The Wichita Eagle

Veterans Day Events

El Dorado

Today

7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Celebration of Freedom El Dorado A variety of events around El Dorado, including a parade downtown beginning at 11 a.m. followed by a free hot dog feed at McDonald Stadium.

KINGMAN

Wednesday

9:15 a.m. Ninth annual Veterans Day Program Kingman High School The program includes a guest speaker from the Kansas Army National Guard, Major Adam Krein, an Iraq War veteran; a Bob Hope U.S.O. Show; and recognition of veterans and active-duty personnel in the audience. Refreshments will be served after the program. All are welcome to attend. The program is dedicated to Sgt. 1st Class David Berry of the 1st Battalion, 161st Field Artillery, Battery C of the Kansas Army National Guard, who was killed in Iraq in 2006.

PILSEN

Wednesday

11 a.m. Seventh annual Military Pilgrimage to Pilsen St. John Nepomucene Church Mass will be celebrated in honor of Father Emil Kapaun. Military honors and a wreath-laying ceremony will follow at the Kapaun memorial on the church grounds.

VALLEY CENTER

Today

8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. LifePoint Church, 400 S. Abilene, and Veterans Park, 337 S. Meridian Reception, historical artifact display, tribute to veterans, flyover and flag ceremony. Free. For more information, call 316-755-7310. WICHITA

Today

11 a.m. Veterans Day Parade Downtown Wichita Parade on Main Street from Murdock to Douglas. Military vehicles will be on display in front of Century II after the parade.

Monday

4-10 p.m. On the Border, 2347 N. Maize Road and 1930 N. Rock Road, will donate 10 percent of sales to the USD 259 Junior ROTC Leadership program.

Tuesday

10 a.m. Salute to veterans by the public schools Junior ROTC programs Century II Expo Hall More than 2,100 cadets from eight high schools and 12 middle schools will march in formation. Free and open to the public.

5:30 to 9 p.m. Cargill Learning Center, Sedgwick County Zoo An evening of entertainment and education by Sedgwick County and the Dole VA Medical Center. Information booths, free zoo passes, refreshments, seasonal flu shots and live music. Free for veterans and their families. Reservations required. Call Brandi Clarke at 316-660-7673.

Wednesday

10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Hugo Salutes our Veterans Sam’s Club, 3415 N. Rock Road Georgia health care company AMG Medical Inc. will give away 25,000 Hugo Folding Canes nationwide to U.S. military veterans. Canes are available while supplies last.

Nov. 14

1-4 p.m. “Pleasant Valley Memories of World War II” Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church, 1600 W. 27th St. North A documentary featuring interviews with five local World War II veterans and their spouses. Free.

Nov. 14-15

1-10 p.m. Nov. 14 1-6 p.m. Nov. 15 Veterans Day Powwow Mid-America All-Indian Center, 650 N. Seneca Hosted by the Wichita Kansas Intertribal Warrior Society. Saturday’s schedule includes gourd dancing, 1-5 p.m.; dinner 5-6 p.m.; grand entry 6:30 p.m.; intertribal dancing 7-10 p.m. Sunday’s schedule includes gourd dancing all day. Free. For more information, call 316-708-6254.

As the first color guard came into view this morning, James Brown stood, took off his ball cap and put it over his heart.

He can't walk far without his oxygen, and he can't stand for long periods, but he wanted to be at Wichita's Veterans Day Parade to honor his fellow veterans.

"When I went in, there was eight of us went into the squad," he said. "At the end, there was two of us left."

Brown's cap bears evidence of his World War II service: a Bronze Star, a Good Conduct Medal, a European Theater Medal with two battle stars, an Army of Occupation Medal and a Victory Medal.

From a bench at the northwest corner of Central and Main, Brown talked about his service as he watched veterans of all kinds, bands, public officials, vintage cars and students march by.

The annual parade is organized by the Wichita school district's Junior ROTC and leadership programs, who do it as a service project.

"We're honoring our veterans," said Col. Bob Hester, who directs the programs. "That's a pretty important cause."

Brown stays in touch with others from the 39th Infantry Battalion, Ninth Division, though they no longer gather for reunions. At 83, he's the youngest of the group still living, he said.

He's the only one without a Purple Heart. One fellow veteran joked during a reunion that the group should take him into a back room and shoot him in the foot, just so he could get one, he said.

Each time an American flag passed by him in the parade, whether carried by a Junior ROTC group or a veteran on a float or fluttering off the back of a Patriot Guard motorcycle, Brown's cap went over his heart.

Brown was in the infantry and sent to Europe in the closing months of World War II. "I got in at Remagen," he said, referring to a battle in March 1945 that opened the way for Allied troops to drive into the heart of Germany.

When the shooting ended, Brown became a medic, having gone through training before he went to Europe.

"The medics had the points to get home first, and there was an extreme shortage of medics," he said with a smile.

Brown's military career lasted 23 months but remained a part of him.

He said he tries to make the Veterans Day Parade every year. "If our (American) Legion club was involved, I'd probably be riding on the float, but they don't do it."

He watches the parades "just to see what's going on. What's new. Just to enjoy the camaraderie that goes along with it."

As a contingent from McConnell Air Force Base marched by, one member noticed Brown and his ball cap and gave him a salute.

Brown gave him a sharp salute in return.

"Thank you for your service," another parade participant called.

"Thank you," Brown replied.

Reach Karen Shideler at 316-268-6674 or kshideler@wichitaeagle.com.

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