Tulsa Gears Up for Its Massive Veterans Day Parade

Veterans Day is Monday, and the City of Tulsa will celebrate with the annual Veterans Day parade.

Joshua Starks served in the Army and the Oklahoma National Guard and is now the City of Tulsa Veterans Human Rights Commissioner. He joined News On 6 at 4 to talk about this year's parade.

The Parade's Impressive Scale

"We have 4000 people registered to march in the parade," Stark revealed. "That is huge. That is massive, huge. We're one of the largest parades in the entire country. We'll have over 350 vehicles in there moving through there, and that will be, you know, Jeepers, that will be old cars, that will be, you know, military vehicles going through there. It's really going to be exciting."

The Highlight of the Parade

Stark highlighted the impressive flyover as a special feature of the event.

"And in the best vehicle, of course, is the F-16 flying overhead. That's pretty special, right there."

Finding the Best Viewing Spots

When it comes to the best places to view the parade, Stark has some recommendations.

"The best place, I think, to view is right there, where the center of the action is at third in Boston. But it can be pretty packed to be, like, three or four people deep, but it's awesome there. We'll have the dignitaries there, and that's the best place to view it. But you know, if you don't like crowds, and I would say, move back toward 7th Street, because, if you're not crazy about people being around, it's a great way to enjoy the parade and not deal with the stress of all people."

The Heartwarming Community Support

Stark expressed his amazement at the community's enthusiasm for the parade, recalling his own experiences as a young participant.

"I used to be one of those little kids out there, you know. I was, I was a boy scout marching in the parade back when I was in high school. And now that I'm in charge of it, and seeing, you know, that kind of full circle of when I used to be there and be that kid waiting for that candy to be handed to me, and all waving the flag a lot, it's really amazing."

The Significance for Veterans

Stark emphasized the profound impact the parade has on veterans, both emotionally and as a community.

"It's the only time some veterans you'll ever know they're a veteran is on Veterans Day, right? And sometimes it's the only time they ever talk to other veterans. Other veterans. And so it's really great. It's healing. It's this community of veterans that are out there, and they're just they're able to share those experiences and then know that the community appreciates the service and the sacrifice that they do and that they go through, and that they're able to feel that and then carry them throughout the entire year."

The Dedication of the Organizers

Organizing an event of this magnitude is no easy feat, but Stark and his team of 12 dedicated volunteers have been working tirelessly for 12 months to ensure the parade's success.

"It does take a commitment of 12 months, all the way through the way through the year, to plan the next one, to coordinate the flyovers, to coordinate the music, to coordinate the dignitaries."

With the stage set for an unforgettable celebration, the Tulsa community is eagerly awaiting the arrival of this year's Veterans Day Parade.

As Stark eloquently stated, "It really is heartwarming to see the crowds come out and [show] how important it is."