Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – Schools, clubs, churches and community members took to the streets of downtown Jonesboro to honor veterans of all branches in the Craighead County Veterans Monument Foundation’s (CCVMF) annual Veterans Day Parade.
The parade, which began at 10 a.m., was led by Grand Marshal Bill L. Gott a World War II and Korean War veterans., Afterward, a Veterans Day ceremony was held at the Craighead County Courthouse.
Rich Norris, president of the CCVMF and retired U.S. Army Major, took to the grandstand as the keynote speaker. Other speakers included Mayor Harold Copenhaver, Craighead County Judge Marvin Day and state Rep. Johnny Rye.
The theme of this year’s Veterans Day program was “Celebrating 250 Years of Freedom,” commemorating the 250th anniversary of the establishment of the United States Army, Navy and Marine Corps.
“We all must work and serve together to honor our veterans and show the importance for our entire community,” Copenhaver said. “The 250th anniversary is coming upon us. We’re going to be unified with 499 other cities in the state of Arkansas on that very day, so I challenge you to get involved, and when you have an opportunity for the 250th anniversary to engage yourself in the city of Jonesboro or your community, please do so, because we’re going to all stand united on that day for our veterans.”
Day invited everyone to come to the courthouse Tuesday night as it participates in a nationwide project called Operation Green Light.
“We are going to light up the courthouse green starting the 4th through Veterans Day in honor of all our veterans. Please come by and enjoy that and just do that in memory of our veteran community,” Day said.
The ceremony also celebrated the newest USS Arkansas, the 27th Virginia-class submarine and the fifth vessel to be named Arkansas, which was christened in December 2024, with its crew having a float in the parade.
“There is a dedicated team here for you to buy certain articles that happen to support the USS Arkansas crew,” Norris said. “It’s a dedicated team to promote the commissioning of the USS Arkansas and provide those little extras and comfort items for the boat and crew that the Navy doesn’t provide.”
Norris spoke about the history of the CCVMF and promoted buying a brick for the monument to preserve the memories of Craighead County men and women in the armed services.
“We invite everyone who has lived, worked, gone to school, or has family or other strong connections in Craighead County, even if you just rode down the street, to purchase and place and engrave a brick on our monument,” Norris said.
Bricks are $50 per brick, and donations to the foundation are also welcome.
The CCVMF is located in the Craighead County Courthouse, room 103.
Norris ended the event with words of admiration and encouragement for veterans to carry with them.
“For those of you who are veterans, your presence is a living testament to courage, resilience and an unwavering commitment to the ideals on which this nation was founded. Veterans Day is not just merely a date on the calendar,” he said. “As far as I’m concerned, it’s a sacred opportunity for us as a nation to pause and reflect on the meaning of service.”