Oak Harbor’s first Veterans Day Parade is shaping up nicely, say organizers.

The parade is set to be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, according to Terry Lacey, a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7392, who came up with the idea. He said registrations for the event are starting to pick up as it draws closer and response from the community has been very positive.

“They basically just wonder why it’s taken this long to do it,” he said. “And they don’t seem to see weather as being a factor. So hopefully we’ll have good weather.”

Anyone that is a veteran, any veteran’s group or organization or any organization that serves veterans is welcome to participate in the parade, which will follow the traditional route down Pioneer Way to Bayshore Drive and back onto Pioneer Way. Lacey encourages people from all over Whidbey Island to take part.

So far, Lacey said the Marine Corps League, several Pearl Harbor survivors, the Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps and even the Oak Harbor High School Band have signed up to participate, among others.

“The band jumped right on board with it,” Lacey said. “They’ll be playing patriotic music so it’s really good that we got them.”

The parade should be quite an impressive procession. According to Lacey, there will be people carrying the flags from all 50 states, the 27 versions of the official American flag used since our nation’s birth, and at least 60 fallen warrior banners will be carried by either active duty military members or veterans.

In addition to several veterans groups and organizations, members of the Canadian contingent stationed at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station are also planning to show their support by marching.

“We’re all in this together,” said Lacey. “I think it’s just a common cause in all of us.”

Anyone interested in participating can call Lacey at 672-8339 for information. Applications to participate will be accepted up until just before the parade, but Lacey does urge people to sign up in advance. Applications are available at www.ohvetsday

parade.com along with other information about the event. There is no cost to participate.

“It makes you feel good as a vet,” Lacey said. “You know, you’re trying to do something good for the community and when asked, everyone is willing to do what they need to do.”