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Saluting Veterans Is Aim Of This Parade

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By B.C. MANION

bmanion@tampatrib.com

Published: November 5, 2008

TOWN 'N COUNTRY - This community's 15th annual Veterans Day Parade on Saturday will feature marching bands, Gasparilla floats and pirates, Scout troops, military groups, politicians and civic leaders.

It will honor Army Cpl. Aaron Griner, a combat medic who died June 28, 2006, in Afghanistan after the Humvee in which he was riding rolled over a land mine.

At the parade, members of Griner's family will ride in a car immediately behind the parade's grand marshal, Col. Matthew H. Arens, vice commander of the 6th Air Mobility Wing at MacDill Air Force Base.

Griner's mother, Anita Bridges, and his sister, Megan Griner, will travel from Atlanta to take part in the parade. Another sister, Annie Van Horn of Brandon, will join them.

Bridges is pleased her son will being honored in this particular parade.

"My son played soccer in Town 'N Country for many years," Bridges said. "He had been part of that community."

He had been in Afghanistan for a few months when he was killed. His widow, Amanda Griner, and their infant son, Austin, live in New York.

While Griner will be singled out for his service and sacrifice, he also represents all men and women who have served in the military, said Brian Boyle, chairman of the Veterans Day Parade Corp.

The parade will have solemn moments, Boyle said, but it is not intended to be a somber event. It is a patriotic celebration. To help set that tone, parade watchers are encouraged to wear red, white and blue and to bring signs proclaiming support for veterans and active members of the armed forces.

Organizers expect to hand out about 1,500 6-inch flags to people lining the parade route.

The parade begins at 10 a.m. near Morgan Woods Elementary School. It will head west on Barry Road, go south on Hanley Road and end at Paula Drive. The review stand is near Webb Middle School, 6035 Hanley Road.

The parade is scheduled to last about two hours, Boyle said.

Highlights will include a flyover by one of MacDill's KC-135 tankers and Cristina Querrer performing the national anthem.

At the parade's conclusion there will be a community carnival at Webb Middle School.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: 15th annual Veterans Day Parade
WHEN: 10 a.m. Saturday

WHERE: The staging area is near Morgan Woods Elementary. The parade heads west on Barry Road and goes south on Hanley Road to Paula Drive.

WHO: Marching bands, scouts, Gasparilla pirates, politicians, and military and civic groups are expected to take part.

Reporter B.C. Manion can be reached at (813) 865-1507.

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