Lafayette, LA – Military veterans will be honored this year in Lafayette’s inaugural Veterans Day Parade in November to pay tribute to their sacrifices and contributions made while serving their country. Spearheaded by Lafayette native and retired Sgt. Major Anazia Andrus-Sam, the parade planned for the official Veterans Day observance on November 11, aims to bring awareness about veterans’ significant role in shaping our society and foster a sense of unity within the community.
“The sacrifices and bravery displayed by our military veterans should never go unnoticed,” said Andrus-Sam. “They have dedicated their lives to serving our country, and it’s time we show them our deep gratitude. I invite everyone in Lafayette and surrounding areas to come out and join us in celebrating these exceptional men and women.”
After retiring and returning home to Lafayette in 2020, Andrus-Sam discovered that Lafayette lacked a dedicated celebration on Veterans Day to honor local heroes. Determined to fill this void, she took the initiative and successfully organized drive-by veterans parades for the past three years. Now, she is thrilled to transition to an even bigger event.
Lafayette Mayor-President Josh Guillory, a veteran himself, expressed his appreciation for Andrus-Sam and the organizers’ dedication to ensuring a meaningful celebration. “The inaugural Veterans Parade will allow our community to come together and express our gratitude while creating a lasting tradition for future generations.”
The inaugural Veterans Parade will occur on Veterans Day, November 11, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. The parade route will cover the heart of Lafayette, passing down Jefferson Street, Johnston Street, and Garfield Street and ending at Parc International with a jamboree.
All veterans in the Acadiana area are invited to register to ride in the parade and are welcome to attend to the jamboree at Parc International following the parade for food, fun, and veteran resources. Additional events will also be held at Cité des Arts after. More information to come.
To register to ride in the parade, please visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/veterans-day-parade-and-celebration-tickets-666909633667.
Andrus-Sam and her team also seek participation from veteran organizations for the jamboree. Businesses and organizations interested in sponsoring or contributing to the event in any way possible are urged to contact Andrus-Sam at Lftveteransassistingothers@gmail.com.
