Nebraska's Official Veteran's Day Parade celebrates service

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OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. --  Nebraska's Official Veteran's Day Parade is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 7 at 10 a.m. and will travel down Mission Avenue in Olde Towne Bellevue, Nebraska.

The Grand Marshall for the parade is Lou Pell, a 26-year Air Force veteran with extensive service to the military and community.

As an active duty member, Pell was honored as the 2006 Air Force recipient of the Spirit of Hope Award, an annual award that recognizes one member (or group) from each branch of the military for their community and military volunteer service.

In 2009, Pell gave a life-changing opportunity to someone he didn't know. Pell had signed up for the DoD Bone Marrow Registry three years earlier and was notified that he was a near perfect match for a stranger with stage four non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. On July 1, 2009, Pell donated his marrow.  Six years later the recipient, whom he has since met and is very close, is doing great.

The national anthem will be performed by Louis Riva, an Air Force veteran and current civilian employee with the 557th Weather Wing's 2nd Weather Group.

The parade will have floats, classic cars and military members marching in formation and will start on Mission Avenue, beginning at Jackson Street. Entries will travel east and pass a reviewing stand near the Bellevue Little Theatre. They will then make a left on Franklin Street and end at Washington Park.

A pre-parade breakfast bar will be held at the Fraternal Order of Eagles Club at 209 West Mission Ave. from 8 to 10 a.m. Proceeds from the breakfast will go toward community programs.

Everyone is invited to come and celebrate Veterans Day in Olde Town and enjoy the parade.  The event is expected to conclude at approximately 11 a.m.