In addition to the Veterans Day event at the Tahoma National Cemetery, there are other family-friendly activities in the surrounding Plateau community the public can attend this Saturday.
The ever-popular Veterans Day Parade in Auburn, celebrating its 52nd year, starts rolling down Main Street at 11 a.m.
The parade rolls from E Street to A Street, and boasts being one of the largest Veterans Day parades in the country.
This year, there will be nearly 6,000 parade participants, which includes 200 military members, 30-plus high school bands (including Enumclaw and Sumner), and a plethora of veterans, honor guards, and military vehicles.
The parade may be the showstopper, but there are other events happening in Auburn that Saturday as well:
• The American Legion Auburn Post No. 78 hosts a $7 pancake breakfast for all comers from 7 to 9:30 a.m. at 808 Ninth Street Southeast. Reserve a spot by downloading a form here: http://www.auburnwa.gov/Assets/Parks/AuburnWA/Docs/veterans_day_breakfast.pdf
• A static Veterans Day display for viewing military equipment and vehicles, as well as learning more about veterans and military units, will be set up from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on South Division Street.
• A Curb Competition for those who want to honor veterans, but didn’t qualify for the parade, will be held along the parade route. Applications to participate were due Monday, Oct. 9, but that shouldn’t stop families from enjoying the hard work of those who entered in the competition.
• A Remembrance and Lighting of the Flame ceremony will be held at the city’s Veterans Memorial Park at 411 E. St. N.E. The ceremony begins at 9:45 a.m. and ends at 10:15 a.m.
• Bands participating in the parade also compete in the state’s biggest marching band and field competition at the Auburn Memorial Stadium at 801 Fourth St. N.E. The competition begins at 1 p.m.
• If you missed out on breakfast, the Auburn Lions Club is hosting a lunch from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Merrill Gardens, 18 First St. S.E. Tickets are $15, and the meal includes a variety of pasta, salads, dessert and beverage options. Reserve a spot by downloading a form at http://www.auburnwa.gov/Assets/Parks/AuburnWA/Docs/veterans_day_luncheon_order_form.pdf.
• To finish off the day, Auburn VFW Post No. 1741 is hosting an open house from 3 to 5 p.m. Food and refreshments will be served at their 1525 A St. N.E. #107 location.
The Bonney Lake/Sumner VFW Post No. 3070 is also hosting a Veterans Day event with a potluck and hall anniversary celebration from 1 to 6 p.m.
The post is celebrating their 66th anniversary at the 1705 Willow St., Sumner location.
The event is free, but attendees are encouraged to bring food to donate to the potluck.
For more information, call Mike Conner at 253-970-9878, or email the post at vfwpost3070@comcast.net.
