By Claire Sachse
At the Columbus Town Council meeting held Aug. 21, the council agreed to support the 2014 Veteran’s Day Parade scheduled for Tuesday, November 11 starting at 10 a.m.
Col. Otis Livingston, parade organizer, spoke before council and thanked them for their support of the parade in 2013, and asked for the town’s support for this year’s parade.
“We received a lot of compliments from spectators and participants,” said Livingston, of last year’s parade. He added that he expects and wants to see more participation this year.
The parade will use the same route as last year. According to Livingston, it will start at the staging area in the Food Lion parking lot on Mills St., travel east on Mills St., turn right on Peake St., right on Ward St., right on Christopher St., and left on Mills St. to return to the staging area.
The reviewing stand will be on Mills St. at Stearns Park, and Tom Crabtree, news anchor for WSPA, will be the announcer, according to Livingston. The grand marshal will be Col. Quincy Collins, USAF, Ret. According to Livingston, Collins was a prisoner of war in Vietnam, and for a year and a half was a cellmate of Sen. John McCain.
Collins is expected to give a speech after the parade. Road closures are expected to be made that morning to accommodate the parade.