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Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024
The Oceana Echo

New parade part of Oceana County Veterans Day events

The Oceana County Department of Veterans Affairs (OCDVA) is pleased to announce two community events in celebration and recognition of Veterans Day 2024.

The third annual Veterans Day 5K will begin with registration at 10 a.m. in historic Getty Park, followed by the run/walk at 11 a.m. “The race starts and ends at historic Getty Park in honor of the parks’ significant military history during WWII,” said Tracy Blamer of the OCDVA. “Residents and businesses alike are encouraged to sign up to run or walk as a community each year. This year the annual event has been renamed ‘The Warren G. Varney Memorial Veterans Day 5K.’ Born in West Virginia, May 4, 1921, Warren G. Varney, father of Shelby resident, Joseph Varney, was captured during the North Africa battle of Kasserine Pass in February of 1943 and held as a prisoner of war in Germany until his release shortly after Germany’s surrender in 1945. Warren G. Varney passed away in June of 2008. As always, 100 percent of all race proceeds will go back to Oceana County veterans.”

In addition, the OCDVA will host its first annual Veterans Day Parade, Saturday, Nov. 9 starting at 2 p.m. in downtown Hart. The parade will begin and end at the Hart High School parking lots and go on rain or shine.

“We’ve added a Veterans Day parade this year in hopes of continuing the mission of supporting our local veterans and their families through recognition events, support services, and community outreach,” said Blamer. “We have a significantly higher veteran population in Oceana County than the state average, in fact nearly double, and that’s just those who have chosen to identify. For a county of approximately 25,000 people to have nearly 10 percent of its residents identify as veterans says something. This is a county that supports veterans, makes our veterans feel at home and wants to back them after their tour of service. We are also a county that opens their arms and accepts new faces too. As a committee, with local partner support, we decided it was time to bring recognition home to the county seat. Recognition not only for our veterans but for the business, organizations and private residents that support our mission. We are looking forward to seeing this day of celebration grow into an event everyone in the county can be proud of, veterans and private citizens alike.”

Blamer would also like to dispel a rumor that the Clydesdale horses will be a part of this year’s parade. They have submitted their name for consideration with the organization only. They hope to have one of the Clydesdale teams as part of next year’s celebration.

The Hart VFW will also be a part of the Nov. 9 events. The Post will be open from noon to 4 p.m. selling their famous burger meals. Following the parade, the celebration will continue with a special speaker.

Those interested in joining the Warren G. Varney Memorial 5K, should visit, 

https://runsignup.com/Race/MI/...

For those interested in joining the first ever Veterans Parade, please visit https://docs.google.com/forms/.... All are welcome!

Finally, Blamer said the annual VFW-sponsored remembrance ceremony at the Veterans Park on Hart Lake, will be held as usual starting at 11 a.m. on Veterans Day, Monday, Nov. 11.