Appleton Flag Day Parade

ghts a different military service. The 2024 parade will highlight the United States Army, the United States Army Reserve, and the Wisconsin Army National Guard. A notable individual(s) will be chosen to serve as Honorary Parade Marshal(s) to represent the Army, Army Reserve, and/or Army National Guard. The Honorary Parade Marshal(s) will be announced soon. Just prior to the parade stepping off at 1:58 PM our nation's anthem, the "Star Spangled Banner" will be performed to officially start the parade. The begins at the intersection of Wisconsin Ave. The two-mile route travels west on Wisconsin Ave. to State St., south on State St. to College Ave. At College Ave. the parade travels east and ends at Drew St. by Lawrence University. Notable annual entries include:
• Nearly 20 bands, including the Appleton City Band, Appleton East High School Patriot Marching Band, Appleton West High School Terror Marching Band, Appleton North High School Lightning Marching Band, Lutheran Vanguard of Wisconsin, Lakeside Lutheran High School Warrior Marching Band, Valley Troubadours Marching Band, the 484th Army Band of Chicago/Milwaukee, 1st Brigade Band of Watertown, Americanos Alumni Drum & Bugle Corps, The Positions Band, Tom Schneider's 2/5th Party Band, the Kimberly Community Band, and the New Horizons Band.
•Veterans organizations from throughout northeast Wisconsin, tributes to all five branches of the United States military, patriotic floats, marching units, antique vehicles, fire trucks, horses, clowns, scooters, tractors, and much, much more! Pre-Parade Events:
• Downtown Appleton Farm Market from 8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. on College Ave. in downtown Appleton from Appleton St. to Drew St.
• Pre-Parade Patriotic Concert by a performance group to be announced at 12:00 noon in Houdini Plaza (corner of College Ave. and Appleton St.) in downtown Appleton.
• Pierce Manufacturing and WHBY Radio will hand out free flags to spectators just before the parade begins. Post-Parade Events:
• To be announced. The 2024 Appleton Flag Day Parade will be live streamed by WFRV Local 5 at www.wearegreenbay.com and rebroadcast on dates and times to be announced. The volunteer Appleton Parade Committee encourages all to embrace Flag Day and celebrate our community’s unity, family traditions, and respect for the red, white, and blue. The Appleton Flag Day Parade has been recognized as the nation’s oldest and best Flag Day parade. It has evolved into a huge event drawing more than 75,000 spectators and participants from state of Wisconsin and nation. They come to honor the flag, to thank veterans for their service, to see scouts marching, bands playing patriotic music, floats displaying flag themes, elected officials greeting their constituents, and horses, old vehicles, and fire trucks passing by. Victory was achieved in World War II and the GIs came home. As Gold Star families mourned their losses, the “Greatest Generation” settled in and went back to work. Many veterans married and started raising families. National pride rose as veterans and home front civilians cherished memories of a job well done and reacted to the developing Cold War. Reflecting this wave of patriotism, in 1949 the Appleton Elks Club made the decision to honor Flag Day with a community parade. The Elks, many of whom were WWII veterans, wanted each citizen to be proud to live in the United States of America and to appreciate their freedom. This same year, an Act of Congress signed by President Truman officially recognized June 14 as National Flag Day. This strengthened President Wilson’s 1916 Proclamation declaring the 14th of June as Flag Day. On this date in 1777, “Old Glory” was adopted as our national symbol by the 2nd Continental Congress. The first Flag Day Parade in Appleton was held in 1950. The route started at Lawrence College and proceeded west along College Avenue to State Street. Parade leadership in the 1950s included Mayor Robert Roemer, Russ Peotter, Alvin Tews, and Cliff Radder. When Appleton turned 100 in 1957, the Centennial Committee expanded the parade to the current route. Responsibility for the Flag Day Parade transferred to the City of Appleton in 1960 under the administration of Mayor Clarence Mitchell. Early members of the city’s parade committee were Ken Loos (Chairman), Glenn Utschig, Bill Selle, Merton Ericke, Dorothy Kemen, Delmar “Bud” Otis, Russ Lueben, and Bob Lathrop. Chairmanship was passed on to the Otis Family in 1975, first under “Bud” and since 1985, his son Greg. In 2019, Greg Otis passed the chairmanship baton on to his son Corey Otis (third generation chairman). Through the years, numerous volunteers have served on the parade committee with the mission of producing a first-class display of patriotism. The parade has been broadcast on WFRV TV5 and WJMN TV3 television since 1989. The parade has become a success for many reasons, including solid community support and focus. The high standards originally developed by Bud Otis have also created a quality event. The parade attracts military units and other entries from across the United States who want to be part of the nation's oldest Flag Day parade. No hand-outs (candy, literature, etc.) will be distributed on or alongside the parade route. Rules prohibit candy throwing, campaigning and any type of literature to be distributed on or along the parade route. Until 1976, horses were prohibited, but they have been part of parades since then. All groups with animals must have a certificate of liability insurance on file with the City. (Send the insurance certificate to: Flag Day Parade Committee, 333 W. College Ave., Suite 100, Appleton, WI 54911. Certificates must be reviewed and filed by the City of Appleton's Risk Manager before appearance in the Parade.) No alcoholic beverages will be allowed in or on vehicles on the parade route. Appropriate attire is required. Float Requirements: 1) Float will honor the flag; 2) Sponsor's name on the float; 3) No commercial advertising; 4) No political candidate or political organization can solicit or advertise candidacy in the Parade. Final participation in the Parade will be upon approval of the Flag Day Parade Committee.