Col. Robert E. Spiller Parade marshal

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Retired Col. Robert E. Spiller of Oakland will help marshal in Saturday’s annual Veterans Day parade through downtown Bowling Green.

“He is very well deserving of that honor,” said Bobbi Jo Sexton, city central coordinator who is organizing the parade. “The (Military Liason Board) chose him for not only his years of military service but because he has been such a role model and spokesman for veterans in the community.”

Spiller for years has supported the need for more nursing home spots for veterans in the state. He has also worked to make sure area veterans receive proper medical care by helping organize their transportation to Veterans Affairs medical facilities.

“He has always fought really hard for all veterans and contributed a lot to the community,” Sexton said.

Earlier this year, Spiller and his wife, Cora Jane, were selected as recipients of the Jefferson Award, the community service award program sponsored locally by WBKO-TV and the Daily News.

One special feature of this year’s parade will be the participation of 40 or so veterans who own Corvettes.

In addition to riding in the parade, veterans from the region will participate in a variety of events sponsored by the National Corvette Museum across three days.

There also will be a new miniature horse and cart entry in the parade and a combined band from Bowling Green High School and Warren Central High School. In all, there will be 102 entries, including all of the Junior ROTC organizations in the county, Western Kentucky University mascot Big Red and Broadway the Clown as Uncle Sam and a float from The Salvation Army with some authentic World War I and II military uniforms.

The two winners of the holiday’s essay contest also will be in this year’s parade. Drakes Creek Middle School eighth-graders Alexis Shindhelm and Jessica Vaughan also will read their essays at the flag raising ceremony following the parade at the Veterans Courtyard at the Warren County Courthouse.

“Unfortunately, we won’t be able to have the luncheon after the parade this year because of funding constraints,” Sexton said.

The parade route has changed this year. It will start at 10 a.m. at Sixth Avenue and College Street, move past Circus and Fountain squares, turn left on 10th Avenue, left on State Street and then end at Sixth Avenue and State Street.

Other Veterans Day related activities are planned elsewhere throughout the region Saturday and on the actual holiday.

There will be a program at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Veterans Memorial Park on Ky. 63 in the Freedom community in Barren County.

Western Kentucky University will have a Veterans Day celebration at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Guthrie Bell Tower and the VFW Post 1298 on Richardsville Road is having its program at 11 a.m. that day as well.

Commander Dean Frasier said Greenwood High School’s Navy Jr. ROTC will present the colors and the VFW’s honor guard will do a gun volley. Circuit Judge Steve Wilson is master of ceremonies and OPNAC Command Master Chief William Clouse is the speaker.

“All veterans and their families are welcome,” Frasier said.