Leonardtown, MD – The public is invited to salute America’s Veterans at the 2018 Veterans Day Parade in Leonardtown. The march, sponsored by the Commissioners of St. Mary’s County and Commissioners of Leonardtown, steps off on Sunday, November 11 at 10 a.m. The parade along Fenwick Street featured Veterans, dignitaries, elected officials, local high school marching bands, military units, color guards, classic and antique cars, Boy and Girl Scouts, cheerleaders, motorcycles, horses, as well as fire, police and emergency personnel and equipment.
Immediately following the parade, spectators are encouraged to remain in the Town Square for a Veterans Memorial ceremony to include patriotic music, laying of wreaths and words of remembrance. The ceremony will recognize the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I as well as the 50th anniversary of the Tet Offensive during the Vietnam War.
Spectators can come to the Square early to speak with representatives from Vacations for Vets of St. Mary’s County, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Warfighter Advance, Patuxent River Detachment 1305 of the Marine Corps League and the 29th Infantry Division stationed at Naval Air Station Patuxent River. These organizations will be set up in the Square to provide information on programs for Veterans and active-duty military, including ways the general public can help our military families. The Good Earth on Park Avenue will be giving out free, hot coffee and tea to Veterans during the event and Dunkin Donuts will have a sampling truck at the shuttle stop on Shadrick Street.
In the event of inclement weather, the parade will be cancelled and the Memorial Ceremony will take place in the St. Mary’s Ryken High School auditorium, 22600 Camp Calvert Road in Leonardtown (inside Romuald Hall on the back campus). Those wishing to lay wreaths at the monuments may choose to do so.
Parking and Shuttle Information
Parade participants are requested to be in place at the lineup location at St. Mary’s Ryken High School no later than 9:30 a.m. and to plan as follows:
Parade vehicles, including buses, floats, cars, trucks and motorcycles, should report directly to the staging area at St. Mary’s Ryken High School between 7 and 8 a.m. All parade vehicles – except emergency vehicles – should be parked by 8 a.m.
Marching groups and other parade participants should park at Leonardtown Middle School and take the shuttle to St. Mary’s Ryken High School between 8 and 9:30 a.m.
Parents are not to drop off their children at Ryken high school along the roadside or at the intersection. All persons participating in the parade (and who are not riding in a parade vehicle) should ride the shuttle bus from Leonardtown Middle School.
Parking for Spectators
The parking lot adjacent to the Courthouse on Courthouse Drive is reserved for school buses and shuttles only. This area must remain clear to reduce congestion at the end of the parade. As such, parking for spectators and parade participants will not be available at the Courthouse.
Spectators are asked to park at the St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds and ride one of the complimentary, round-trip shuttles into Town. Free parking and shuttles will also be available at the St. Mary’s County Governmental Center. Spectators are asked to park in the lots adjacent to the Carter State Office Building (23115 Leonard Hall Drive in Leonardtown). From there you may walk into town or board a shuttle at the shuttle stop near the flagpoles between the Carter State Office Building and the Potomac Building. Wheelchair-accessible shuttles will be available at both locations. The return shuttle stop for both locations will be located across from The Olde Town Pub on the corner of Washington and Shadrick Streets.
Spectators and participants using the shuttles may encounter delays due to crowding. Your patience and understanding is greatly appreciated.
Washington Street and Fenwick Street leading into downtown Leonardtown will be closed to traffic from 8 a.m. until noon. Downtown parking and thru traffic will be limited to areas accessible from Lawrence Avenue. Deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office will provide traffic control and parade volunteers will assist with parking and street detours.
Handicapped Parking
Spectators requiring handicapped parking may take Washington Street and (upon showing proof of a handicapped sticker or need) will be allowed to park in the public lot beside the Hair Company.
For a map of available parking areas go to http://leonardtown.somd.com/pdf/VetDayPark.jpg
For more information call 301-475-9791 or 301-475-4200, ext. *1342.
Immediately following the parade, spectators are encouraged to remain in the Town Square for a Veterans Memorial ceremony to include patriotic music, laying of wreaths and words of remembrance. The ceremony will recognize the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I as well as the 50th anniversary of the Tet Offensive during the Vietnam War.
Spectators can come to the Square early to speak with representatives from Vacations for Vets of St. Mary’s County, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Warfighter Advance, Patuxent River Detachment 1305 of the Marine Corps League and the 29th Infantry Division stationed at Naval Air Station Patuxent River. These organizations will be set up in the Square to provide information on programs for Veterans and active-duty military, including ways the general public can help our military families. The Good Earth on Park Avenue will be giving out free, hot coffee and tea to Veterans during the event and Dunkin Donuts will have a sampling truck at the shuttle stop on Shadrick Street.
In the event of inclement weather, the parade will be cancelled and the Memorial Ceremony will take place in the St. Mary’s Ryken High School auditorium, 22600 Camp Calvert Road in Leonardtown (inside Romuald Hall on the back campus). Those wishing to lay wreaths at the monuments may choose to do so.
Parking and Shuttle Information
Parade participants are requested to be in place at the lineup location at St. Mary’s Ryken High School no later than 9:30 a.m. and to plan as follows:
Parade vehicles, including buses, floats, cars, trucks and motorcycles, should report directly to the staging area at St. Mary’s Ryken High School between 7 and 8 a.m. All parade vehicles – except emergency vehicles – should be parked by 8 a.m.
Marching groups and other parade participants should park at Leonardtown Middle School and take the shuttle to St. Mary’s Ryken High School between 8 and 9:30 a.m.
Parents are not to drop off their children at Ryken high school along the roadside or at the intersection. All persons participating in the parade (and who are not riding in a parade vehicle) should ride the shuttle bus from Leonardtown Middle School.
Parking for Spectators
The parking lot adjacent to the Courthouse on Courthouse Drive is reserved for school buses and shuttles only. This area must remain clear to reduce congestion at the end of the parade. As such, parking for spectators and parade participants will not be available at the Courthouse.
Spectators are asked to park at the St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds and ride one of the complimentary, round-trip shuttles into Town. Free parking and shuttles will also be available at the St. Mary’s County Governmental Center. Spectators are asked to park in the lots adjacent to the Carter State Office Building (23115 Leonard Hall Drive in Leonardtown). From there you may walk into town or board a shuttle at the shuttle stop near the flagpoles between the Carter State Office Building and the Potomac Building. Wheelchair-accessible shuttles will be available at both locations. The return shuttle stop for both locations will be located across from The Olde Town Pub on the corner of Washington and Shadrick Streets.
Spectators and participants using the shuttles may encounter delays due to crowding. Your patience and understanding is greatly appreciated.
Washington Street and Fenwick Street leading into downtown Leonardtown will be closed to traffic from 8 a.m. until noon. Downtown parking and thru traffic will be limited to areas accessible from Lawrence Avenue. Deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office will provide traffic control and parade volunteers will assist with parking and street detours.
Handicapped Parking
Spectators requiring handicapped parking may take Washington Street and (upon showing proof of a handicapped sticker or need) will be allowed to park in the public lot beside the Hair Company.
For a map of available parking areas go to http://leonardtown.somd.com/pdf/VetDayPark.jpg
For more information call 301-475-9791 or 301-475-4200, ext. *1342.
