Bradenton Purple Heart veteran, Vietnam POW to headline Veterans Day Parade in Palmetto

A series of events, including the annual Veterans Day Parade, are planned to celebrate the Veterans Day holiday on Monday.

The parade will start at 9:30 a.m. at the Manatee County Fairgrounds, 1402 14th Ave. W., Palmetto. It will finish at 11 a.m. at Sutton Park, 1036 Sixth St. W., Palmetto.

Brad Smith, a decorated Navy veteran who was a prisoner of war in Vietnam, will deliver the Veterans Day address at Sutton Park after the parade. Smith served in the Navy from 1961 to 1985 and retired with the rank of commander.

Smith’s military awards include two Silver Stars, the Legion of Merit, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Meritorious Service Medal, three Bronze Stars, two Purple Hearts and others.

The Manatee County Veterans Council and the City of Palmetto are co-sponsors of the parade.

Government offices will be closed Monday in observance of the holiday, but the School District of Manatee County will use Monday as one of its hurricane makeup days.

Other Veterans Day events in Manatee County

• The Diocese of Venice will host a Catholic Memorial Mass at 2:45 p.m. Monday at the Sarasota National Cemetery’s Patriot Plaza, 9810 S.R. 72, Sarasota.
  
  

• The Bradenton Kiwanis Club will have a Veterans Appreciation Luncheon at 11:15 a.m. Monday at the Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 Third Ave. W., Bradenton. The keynote speaker for the luncheon will be Zeke Crozier, a decorated Army veteran who was wounded in combat in Afghanistan. Veterans can get limited tickets for the luncheon at the Manatee County Veterans Services office, 1401 Third Ave. W., Bradenton.

• The State College of Florida will host a free concert with the Airmen of Note, the Air Force’s premier jazz ensemble, at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Neel Performing Arts Center, 5840 26th St. W., Building 11 E., Bradenton.
  
  

• SCF will present Honoring Veterans, Our ReaI Heroes with the SCF Symphonic Band and the Sarasota Concert Band at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Neel Performing Arts Center, 5840 26th St. W., Building 11 E., Bradenton.
  
  

• The City of Anna Maria canceled its Old Soldiers and Sailors Parade because of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The parade is expected to return next year.

This story was originally published November 8, 2024 at 2:00 PM.