2020 Idaho Veterans Parade will be Saturday, November 7th, beginning at 10:00 in downtown Boise.  Please watch for information coming soon about our new website. 

2019 Boise Veterans Parade Theme
This year's parade theme is "Letters from Home”. Receiving letters from a loved one has an impact not only on our armed forces, but their families and communities.  With the imminence of danger and the uncertainty of war, families are encouraged to write about the most basic daily routines, family news and local gossip. Letters are a lifeline for our service members and is second only to getting a good meal. Mail is still indispensable and plays a significant role in maintaining morale on the battlefront giving the troops the strength to carry on.

Thank You Treasure Valley!
The 2018 Veterans Parade had the highest audience turnout in years!
​We are already planning for next year! 
This year's theme: Letters From Home, A Tribute to the Support Given to the Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors, and Marines While They Were Away From Home.  

This year's parade will be November 2nd, 2019.
The Committee receives a lot of questions why the parade is earlier than the November 11th Veterans Day. It may seem strange but once explained, the Committee hopes it makes sense. First, we coordinate with the Idaho National Guard and Mountain Home Air Force for equipment and personnel to be in the parade. By coordinating this weekend, it allows Service members time off to be with their family during Veterans Day. It also usually leads to nicer weather, thus giving the opportunity for the older Veterans a chance to either participate or come downtown and watch the parade. Lastly, in a small way, it extends the Veterans holiday and allows families more time to take part in other Veteran related activities.  

Do you want to be a part of volunteer group that works with the community, business leaders, city officials and military leaders to organize, advertise and put on the parade to honor our Veterans that have sacrificed so much of their time, their effort and for some, their lives so we could enjoy the freedoms that this country has provided? If so, email the Executive Officer using the link/button above. 

The Parade Committee receives numerous emails thanking us for providing a platform that honors the Veterans that have bravely served the United States. Here is just one example that stood out. The names have been removed to maintain the privacy (published with permission) 
It is from a wife of an Army Veteran asking how her husband can participate in the parade. 

Good Morning, I was talking to my husband who is a 23 yr Retired Army Veteran.   He was awarded with many many awards, but the ones he keeps in a safe deposit box are a Bronze Star w/ V badge, and a total of 3 purple hearts.  He was on a total of 8 deployments and took 4 different shots during those.  The last one thru his neck causing him to have to relearn how to walk, talk, and write.  He beat the odds only to be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2016.  With a 5% survival rate they again told him to he had only a few months left.  He told them "I have been to hell and back, you are not the first doctors to give up on me, and more than likely will not be the last."  He told me he would fight the cancer just like he fought everything else, with every ounce of fight he had.  Today he is cancer free, and fights pancreatic disease daily.  He is my soulmate.   We met in the 6th grade and have been together ever since.  24 years of marriage and 2 adult kids who grew up with him being away.  I don't know how or what it takes to get a Veteran in your parade, but thought I would ask.  He would never put himself out there as he always tells me and everyone else who asks about it.  "I volunteered to do a job, I am no different than every other American who does their jobs daily.  They make America great, just like I do.". 

The Parade Committee couldn't accommodate his individual request to march in the parade but we offered a place at the capital steps to watch the parade. Here is her reply...


I was able to get him to actually go and watch from a distance. He didn't know it but we recorded him as the flag walked by and as the purple heart group also went by. He saluted the entire time and dropped to a knee in prayer when the MIA/POW flag went down the street. He goes to the Veterans Cemetery 4 times a year. His grandfather, and grandmother are buried in Dry Creek which is attached with the Veterans Cemetery. His best friend, is buried is buried in the front section of row e. He visits him for hours and hours, and Saturday was different except this time he left his entire cluster of medals off his dress uniform. His biggest issue is his family doesn't understand what he had to do and why he is so isolated from them. It hurts him each and every day that his own mother, father, brothers and sisters tell each other. He was a warehouse manager, how did he get shot, how he helped 300 5th and 6th graders from being kidnapped and either raped, sold or killed. Sorry for my rambling but I am very happy you held that event. It's the first one since  his last day in uniform that I have able to get him to go an event around the military. He says "its nothing but a job hunny, every American would have done exactly what I did...the proof in that is the shame I get from my own family".
Thanks again, and God Bless.

Thanks for your time,  
Wife of Retired Master Sgt U.S. Army. 


Photos are from the 2018 Boise Veterans Parade; Courtesy of Dan Murphy 

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Boise Veterans Parade:
MISSION

The Boise Veterans Parade Committee plans, organizes, and conducts a Veterans Day Parade in Boise, Idaho, annually in order to recognize sacrifices and honor the service of all Armed Forces veterans of the United States of America, and heighten community understanding and appreciation of the value of military service to the nation.

INTENT

The Boise Veterans Parade Committee’s intent is to honor veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States of America, by extending written invitations to all military organizations and veterans organizations, and selected universities, colleges, high schools, junior high schools, and youth and civic organizations from all communities in the Boise Area, who, on their agreement to adhere to the parade theme and other parade regulations established by the committee, will be encouraged to enter marching bands and/or other appropriate marching or vehicle units in the parade so that through their participation in the parade and support of the parade theme they will honor the service and sacrifice of both serving members and veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States of America, and at the same time heighten community awareness of the value of military service to the nation.​

PARADE DAY & ROUTE

 The parade route begins on 10th Street and travels East on Jefferson to 4th Street where it turns South to Bannock, then proceeds West, ending on 11th Street. The 2019 parade is planned to start at 10:15 AM on Saturday, November 2nd in downtown Boise, Idaho. A special opening ceremony will begin at 10:00 AM on the Idaho State Capital steps. 
                                                       PLEASE NOTE: The start time may change depending on television broadcast schedules.

SUPPORTING THE PARADE

There are three ways to support the parade: (1) View the parade as a spectator; (2) Volunteer to work with the parade committee, especially on parade day; (3) Make a monetary contribution to the parade committee. The committee must pay for various services required of all special events by the City of Boise. Those services include procuring liability insurance, barrier security to ensure the safety of the parade area, portable toilets, and trash disposal. Additionally, the committee has various administrative expenses such as providing certificates to parade participants, vehicle signage, postage, and some advertising expenses. For more information on how you can help, visit the  Sponsorship page. 
 
The Veterans Day Parade Committee is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization, which means that donations are tax deductible for donors. The committee is registered with the Idaho Secretary of State as an incorporated non-profit organization. Neither commercial nor political advertising is permitted in the parade. 
"The willingness of America's veterans to sacrifice for our country has earned them our lasting gratitude." 
Jeff Miller