November 12 is the day for Menard’s annual Veterans’ Day Parade and Auction sponsored by the PTO, an over 80-year long tradition. Festivities will begin at 10:00 a.m. with the parade, which has the theme “Time Travel.”
“We will still accept entries for the parade,” says Cordelia Kothmann, parade chairperson. “Please call the school office at 396-2348 or Cordelia at 396-4335 if you’d like to be in the line-up.”
Once again this year RET/SFC Anastacio (Butch) Aguilar will lead the parade pulling a float with local veterans. Other local military veterans SGT Bostwick and RET/COL Terry will ride in a jeep.
The Girl Scouts of Menard will proudly carry the flags at the front of the parade and will be followed by the 344th Military Intelligence Battalion Colorguard out of Goodfellow Air Force Base.
Categories for parade entries are: elementary school classes; walker, bikers, and small vehicles; other school organizations; and businesses and community. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three in the category for elementary classes only.
All elementary classes from pre-kindergarten through 4th grade will have floats in the parade. The Menard Yellowjacket Band will provide music and will march in the parade, and several high school organizations will have floats.
High school organizations will have food booths in the park. Everyone is encouraged to stay around after the parade and enjoy Frito pie, fajitas, sausage wraps, brisket wraps, pulled pork sandwiches, and drinks.
After the parade, the Menard Yellowjacket Band will play the National Anthem as part of a flag raising ceremony on the north end of the American Legion Park. The auction will start immediately afterwards. During the auction, there will be a pause to announce the winners of the parade.
Auction co-chairpersons again this year are Nora Davis and Tami Russell. Donations can be dropped off at the superintendent’s office. It will be very helpful for all items to be taken in as soon as possible. Baked items are encouraged and can be delivered to the auction trailer on the morning of the parade. Cash donations to the PTO or gift certificates for the auction can be mailed to Menard PTO at P.O. Box 24, Menard, TX 76859.
All parade entries should be lined up and ready to be judged by 9:30 a.m. The parade will line up on both sides of the elementary and junior high buildings. To find out where to line up, entrants can look at the maps that are posted on the school doors or get directions from Benny Kothmann or Monte Lyckman, who will be in charge of the lineup.