Pocatello to celebrate veterans with a parade Saturday
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POCATELLO — People will gather in the Gate City this weekend to celebrate those who made the sacrifice of serving in the United States military.
Starting at 11 a.m. on Saturday, veterans and other participants will march in the Pocatello Veterans Day Parade to celebrate the holiday. This is only the fifth year it has been held, after eight decades of no Veterans Day parades in Pocatello, but its organizers see it as part of a long tradition of honoring those who entered the armed forces to serve their country.
“For generations, we have (given) thanks and honored the people enlisting and signing up and (were) literally willing to give their lives for the people here in this country,” said Teresa Vialpando, president of the Bannock County Veterans Memorial Association (BCVMA).
The Pocatello Veterans Day Parade was revived in 2022 after a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars named Chester Avery did “exhaustive research” and discovered that one hadn’t been held since the 1940s, EastIdahoNews.com reported at the time.
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The VFW was the primary organizing body for the first two years, but in order to share “the love with all of our different service organizations,” Vialpando said, the responsibility switched to the American Legion for two years. This is the first year that BCVMA is responsible for the organization.
Vialpando said that around 30 organizations have entered the parade, including groups with military-themed vehicles, a variety of local organizations and a combined band from Pocatello, Highland and Century High Schools.
The participants will begin at South First Avenue, and will proceed up Center Street, and then turn right on South Tenth Avenue, and then down Clark Street before ending at Caldwell Park.
Tanks Smokin BBQ and Idaho Coffee Company will be serving food and drink at Caldwell Park.
As Vialpando sees it, celebrating Veterans Day with the parade reminds people of the sacrifices veterans made to protect their country and might inspire younger generations to follow in their footsteps.
“Having a parade brings back some memories for some of the older generations, and hopefully influences some of the younger ones to pick up where the needs are once it’s time for them to do so,” Vialpando said.