The Veteran’s Day Parade has been a Homestead, FL tradition since 1946. In addition to over thirty Homestead Job Corps Center students and staff, there were many ROTC and Junior ROTC units plus the VFW and American Legion. A total of sixty units took part in this year’s Homestead Veteran’s Day Parade organized by VFW Post 4127. A highlight of the day was having a four ship fly-by executed by the 93rd Squadron of the 482 Wing – F16s. Grand Marshals were RADM Thomas L. Brown II, U.S. Navy and Colonel Ross Anderson, USAF.
The parade was preceded by a traditional Veterans’ Day ceremony at the Veterans’ Memorial in Losner Park. Masonry students from Homestead Job Corps Center laid the memorial bricks at the park. Brigadier General Hector E. Pagan, US Army Retired was the speaker.
“The Homestead Job Corps Center unit was an excellent addition to the parade. I am certain it was the first parade for many of the students” stated Bob Jensen who served in the Navy and has supervised the Veterans’ Memorial.
Mark Wong, Homestead Job Corps Center Security Officer as well as Chaplain for the American Legion said that as a retired military veteran, he is happy to give advice and encouragement to students. He encourages young people to carry out traditions of the American way of life so that “we can be a strong Nation.”
Job Corps is the nation’s oldest and largest training program for economically disadvantaged young adults. Founded in 1964 by President Lyndon B. Johnson, Job Corps provides vocational, academic, and social skills training in a residential setting to nearly 100,000 young Americans, aged 16-24, each year. For more information about Homestead Job Corps Center, contact Lesly Diaz/Business & Community Liaison at 305-257-4807.