his year Petaluma’s Veteran”s Day parade, one of the largest veteran’s parades in the Bay Area, will honor all military women. There are over 2.1 million women veterans in the U.S., and they represent the fastest-growing group of veterans. Projections indicate that women will make up about 18% of all veterans by 2040.

Despite this, all too often women vets are overlooked. “Women can often go unrecognized”, said Joe Noriel, parade director. “Since the American
Revolution women have served in the military with honor”.

Parade Grand Marshals will be the Redwood Empire Military Women Unit 77. Other notable women veterans in attendance will be Sonoma County Veteran of the year Anne Masterson, Kate O’Hare Palmer Vietnam Veterans of America Women’s Veterans Council Chair, Heather Navie Aviation Ordnance Officer First class who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom as well as Marin sculpture Susan Bahary creator of “Women in Military Service for America memorial at Arlington National Cemetery a monument honoring all service women.

Highlights of the parade will include a special swearing in of new United States Coast Guard recruits before the parade, a vintage military vehicle procession, a flyover by a Vietnam Era Huey helicopter and a special recognition of Petaluma’s oldest veteran 99 year old WWII veteran Pete Ogburn who served in the U.S. Navy during World War II as a gunner and medic on Omaha Beach during the Invasion of Normandy, also known as D-Day who will lead the parade.

The parade will start at 1pm in downtown Petaluma Tuesday November 11 with closing ceremonies at Walnut Park immediately following the parade. For more information see www.petalumaveteransparade.com

Contact:

Joe Noriel, Petaluma American Legion

joenoriel@yahoo.com

707-776-7534