SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A tradition will be celebrated Saturday with the 56th annual Armed Forces Day Parade.
South Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Bob Anderson said the parade is the third longest running of its kind in the United States.
“Some communities stopped their parades during the Vietnam War but we’ve run it continuously. We have over 100 units. We have several flyovers and we five bands,” Anderson said.
The parade, which will featured both active and retired military, begins at noon down D Street in the heart of the city. Anderson said the parade’s longevity speaks to the support of South Charleston residents.
“This has long been a military town,” he said. “During World War I they made parts of ships here and in the Vietnam War they made tanks here. This has been a real military town.”
The parade marshal will be local resident Jack Jones.