Please join us in making this a special day.

News Release from www.HIvetparade.com 

Who: Everyone.  We honor the service and sacrifices made by ALL military, veterans, and their families.  This year, the parade also pays special tribute to women veterans.  If you know any women veterans, please contact us below.

When: November 8, 2014, assembling at 8:00 am. Parade starts at 9:00 am

Where: Parade travels through downtown Hilo. Assembly and parade starts at Kamehameha Statue off Kamehameha Highway in Hilo

Details: 9:00 am to pau on Saturday, 8 Nov.

Downtown Hilo is again the place to be for the 7th Annual Hawai`i Island Veterans Day Parade. Everyone is invited to come and watch or participate.  Go to www.HiVetParade.com  to register your group and participate.

Did You Know? This is one of Hawaii's largest Veterans Day parades honoring American Veterans, all branches and services. Held through the generous the support of our island community. Since the birth of our Nation, veterans have protected our many freedoms against those seeking to harm us and silence us. 

Additionally, our military has been and continues to be on the cutting edge of implementing social change throughout our nation regarding race, gender, and many other forms of diversity.   Because many veterans are humble about their service, though, too many people in our communities may not realize they know a veteran. 

Experience tells us that until we speak up and work more closely together, our important messages and many contributions will not be heard.  The same is true in caring for veterans.  For example, despite years of hard work on this island, we still lack "one-stop" shops to help our 17,000-20,000 veterans find out about, apply for and receive Federal/State/Local/Community benefits they've earned.

Instead, many veterans are either unaware or confused as they try to make their way through a maze of organizations and resource sites, when they are desperate for help.  We have pockets of excellence and effort that are overworked as they work to help our veterans.  There continues to be broad misperceptions of military service and what type of Hawaiian residents joined the military.  Because many veterans serve in their communities without expectation or desire of recognition, these misperceptions often persist. 

With your help, though, we can positively influence our future and improve others' understanding and perceptions through active engagement -- our conversations and actions.

What Can You Do?

  --Join Us and Encourage everyone you know, especially Veterans, Veteran Organizations and Veteran Support Organizations to participate in this year's Veterans Day Parade.  Special tribute planned for women veterans.

  --Line up along the parade route, have fun and cheer all participants on.

Are you a woman veteran, or do you know someone who is? If so, please have her contact Deb at deb@sunrisealoha.com  or Rita at rita.miller808@gmail.com

Lead POC: All other parade details, and to send your generous donations, please visit www.HiVetParade.com    For any questions, email Jan at bivetparade@yahoo.com  or call her at 808-895-4181.

WEBSITE- www.HIvetparade.com   Additional info can be found here, including parade forms for any community organizations prepared to form units (HI National Guard, VFW, UH Hilo, and West Hawaii Veterans [+ your group] perhaps?)