Press Releases
The Portland Veterans Day Parade Is Back With A New Route
PORTLAND, ORE – (September 19, 2022) – The Portland Veterans Day Parade will be back in action on November 11, 2022, under new leadership and taking a new route along Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Leading the team of organizers is Napoleon Hodgers, Commander of the Northwest Chapter of National Association for Black Veterans. “It is my honor and duty to continue the tradition of recognizing our veterans on this very important day. Every one of us has returned home a different person, and the parade is one way we can all come together to celebrate and remember those who served our nation,” says Hodgers.
For the first time since 1974, the parade will travel along Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. instead of NE Sandy Blvd. The parade was established in 1974 by Vernon E. Ross, then-proprietor of Ross Hollywood Funeral Chapel. After the business was sold to a national corporation, Dignity Memorial assumed planning responsibilities. Dignity Memorial paused the parade in 2020 and made the difficult decision to step down from organizing. With the change in organizational leadership came the opportunity to re-envision the parade, resulting in the decision to relocate the route. “After careful consideration, the team decided to implement a new route. Having the parade on MLK provides logistical ease while still being close to public transportation and engaging a different part of the community than in years past,” explains Hodgers.
The parade will begin at NE Beech St. and NE Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., traveling north to Alberta, turning left on NE Alberta and concluding at the Natural Grocers parking lot at 5055 NE Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Portland, OR 97211. Staging of parade participants will be on NE Beech St. east of MLK.
Parade participants typically include veterans, marching bands, youth organizations, the honored 1st Marine Division Association, historic military vehicles, veterans organizations, and veterans motorcycle groups. Previous parades featured nearly 2,000 participants. Everyone is welcome to attend.
Because the new planning team is almost exclusively volunteer, sponsorships are critical to the success of the parade. Visit veteransdayPDX.org to view the parade route, register to be in the parade, sign up to volunteer, and to sponsor.
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PORTLAND, ORE – (September 19, 2022) – The Portland Veterans Day Parade will be back in action on November 11, 2022, under new leadership and taking a new route along Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Leading the team of organizers is Napoleon Hodgers, Commander of the Northwest Chapter of National Association for Black Veterans. “It is my honor and duty to continue the tradition of recognizing our veterans on this very important day. Every one of us has returned home a different person, and the parade is one way we can all come together to celebrate and remember those who served our nation,” says Hodgers.
For the first time since 1974, the parade will travel along Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. instead of NE Sandy Blvd. The parade was established in 1974 by Vernon E. Ross, then-proprietor of Ross Hollywood Funeral Chapel. After the business was sold to a national corporation, Dignity Memorial assumed planning responsibilities. Dignity Memorial paused the parade in 2020 and made the difficult decision to step down from organizing. With the change in organizational leadership came the opportunity to re-envision the parade, resulting in the decision to relocate the route. “After careful consideration, the team decided to implement a new route. Having the parade on MLK provides logistical ease while still being close to public transportation and engaging a different part of the community than in years past,” explains Hodgers.
The parade will begin at NE Beech St. and NE Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., traveling north to Alberta, turning left on NE Alberta and concluding at the Natural Grocers parking lot at 5055 NE Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Portland, OR 97211. Staging of parade participants will be on NE Beech St. east of MLK.
Parade participants typically include veterans, marching bands, youth organizations, the honored 1st Marine Division Association, historic military vehicles, veterans organizations, and veterans motorcycle groups. Previous parades featured nearly 2,000 participants. Everyone is welcome to attend.
Because the new planning team is almost exclusively volunteer, sponsorships are critical to the success of the parade. Visit veteransdayPDX.org to view the parade route, register to be in the parade, sign up to volunteer, and to sponsor.
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2018
Team Red, White and Blue selected as Grand Marshal of Veterans Day Parade
PORTLAND, ORE. – (October 7, 2018) – Team Red, White, and Blue (Team RWB) will be the Grand Marshal of the 44th annual Portland Veterans Day Parade, sponsored by Ross Hollywood Chapel, to be held November 12 in Portland’s Hollywood District.
Formed in 2010, Team RWB’s mission is to “enrich the lives of veterans by connecting them to the community through physical and social activity,” according to Crystal Purdy, the Athletic Director for Team RWB’s Portland Chapter.
In response to being named as the Grand Marshal, Ms. Purdy stated, “we are very humbled to have this opportunity. The parade is clearly focused on honoring veterans and [being Grand Marshal] will provide our organization with an opportunity to speak about our cause in a visible arena and bring our services to many more people.”
The 44th annual Portland Veterans Day Parade begins Monday, November 12, 2018, at 9:30 a.m., at Northeast 40th Avenue and Northeast Hancock Street and travels east on Northeast Sandy Boulevard to Northeast 48th Avenue, where a memorial flag raising ceremony will be held. Limited covered seating will be available at the ceremony. It is Portland’s only nationally-recognized Veterans Day Parade.
Parade participants typically include veterans, marching bands, the honored 1st Marine Division Association, historic military vehicles, veterans’ organizations and veterans’ motorcycle groups. Last year’s parade featured nearly 2,000 participants. Everyone is welcome to attend. Register to march at veteransdaypdx.org.
Free Musical Variety Show and lunch
Veterans and their families can attend a free USO-style show and brown-bag lunch at the German American Society, 4122 NE Sandy Boulevard, starting at 12:30 p.m. Tony Starlight, entertainer and owner of Tony Starlight’s Supper Club, will perform music from the World War II era and later, including popular patriotic music.
This is the ninth year Tony Starlight and his musicians have put on the free show for veterans. Performing with him will be the Oregon National Guard Band, the 234th Army Band. Lunch is provided by neighborhood businesses for the first 150 veterans and their families.
About the Portland Veterans Day Parade
Vernon E. Ross, former owner of the Ross Hollywood Funeral Chapel, founded the parade in 1974 to honor all veterans – past and present, living and dead. Vernon, a veteran of both World War I and World War II, wanted to do something to honor veterans of all wars. Just prior to the parade’s start on Nov. 11, 1983, Vernon Ross collapsed while standing at the base of the Veterans Memorial he’d created. He died later that evening after suffering a heart attack. Ross Hollywood Chapel continues Vernon Ross’ dedication to veterans by sponsoring the annual parade in Portland’s Hollywood District each November.
About Ross Hollywood Chapel
Originally founded in 1946, Ross Hollywood Chapel has been an important part of the Hollywood district for over 50 years. It is part of the Dignity Memorial national network of funeral, cremation, and cemetery service providers. It is located at 4733 NE Thompson Street, Portland.
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PORTLAND, ORE. – (October 7, 2018) – Team Red, White, and Blue (Team RWB) will be the Grand Marshal of the 44th annual Portland Veterans Day Parade, sponsored by Ross Hollywood Chapel, to be held November 12 in Portland’s Hollywood District.
Formed in 2010, Team RWB’s mission is to “enrich the lives of veterans by connecting them to the community through physical and social activity,” according to Crystal Purdy, the Athletic Director for Team RWB’s Portland Chapter.
In response to being named as the Grand Marshal, Ms. Purdy stated, “we are very humbled to have this opportunity. The parade is clearly focused on honoring veterans and [being Grand Marshal] will provide our organization with an opportunity to speak about our cause in a visible arena and bring our services to many more people.”
The 44th annual Portland Veterans Day Parade begins Monday, November 12, 2018, at 9:30 a.m., at Northeast 40th Avenue and Northeast Hancock Street and travels east on Northeast Sandy Boulevard to Northeast 48th Avenue, where a memorial flag raising ceremony will be held. Limited covered seating will be available at the ceremony. It is Portland’s only nationally-recognized Veterans Day Parade.
Parade participants typically include veterans, marching bands, the honored 1st Marine Division Association, historic military vehicles, veterans’ organizations and veterans’ motorcycle groups. Last year’s parade featured nearly 2,000 participants. Everyone is welcome to attend. Register to march at veteransdaypdx.org.
Free Musical Variety Show and lunch
Veterans and their families can attend a free USO-style show and brown-bag lunch at the German American Society, 4122 NE Sandy Boulevard, starting at 12:30 p.m. Tony Starlight, entertainer and owner of Tony Starlight’s Supper Club, will perform music from the World War II era and later, including popular patriotic music.
This is the ninth year Tony Starlight and his musicians have put on the free show for veterans. Performing with him will be the Oregon National Guard Band, the 234th Army Band. Lunch is provided by neighborhood businesses for the first 150 veterans and their families.
About the Portland Veterans Day Parade
Vernon E. Ross, former owner of the Ross Hollywood Funeral Chapel, founded the parade in 1974 to honor all veterans – past and present, living and dead. Vernon, a veteran of both World War I and World War II, wanted to do something to honor veterans of all wars. Just prior to the parade’s start on Nov. 11, 1983, Vernon Ross collapsed while standing at the base of the Veterans Memorial he’d created. He died later that evening after suffering a heart attack. Ross Hollywood Chapel continues Vernon Ross’ dedication to veterans by sponsoring the annual parade in Portland’s Hollywood District each November.
About Ross Hollywood Chapel
Originally founded in 1946, Ross Hollywood Chapel has been an important part of the Hollywood district for over 50 years. It is part of the Dignity Memorial national network of funeral, cremation, and cemetery service providers. It is located at 4733 NE Thompson Street, Portland.
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