Veterans Day Parade, Ceremony plus Vietnam Wall unveiling part of events
(Seguin) — The city of Seguin is pausing today to honor the men and women who have worn the uniform of the United States Armed Forces.
This year, however, Veterans Day 2025 in Seguin will be marked with a full day of remembrance, gratitude, and celebration – a celebration highlighting the official unveiling of the American Veterans Traveling Tribute (AVTT) Vietnam Wall and the annual Veterans Day Parade and Ceremony.
Today’s parade begins at 9 a.m. The procession will lead to the Seguin Coliseum, where the community’s official Veterans Day ceremony will follow at 11 a.m.
The program will feature Major General Bob Parker, U.S. Air Force (Retired) as this year’s guest speaker.
Marlin Howze, the commander of the Doug Herrle Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Chapter 61, says today is about celebrating all who have served.
“This is Veterans Day, and we like to separate that from the Memorial Day experience,” said Howze. “Memorial Day is where we mourn those who have passed through the service of their country. Veterans Day — we like to sit there and separate that out and let people know that this is a celebration of military service and the Wall is one of those significant monuments in Washington that depicts the ultimate sacrifice that many service people will face in protecting the country.”
Following the annual ceremony, the crowd will make its way to Smokey Joe Williams Field at the Seguin Events Complex for the opening of “the much anticipated” traveling Vietnam Wall — an 80-percent scale replica of the iconic memorial in Washington, D.C. The wall, part of the larger AVTT Cost of Freedom Tribute, will be free and open to the public 24 hours a day through Saturday.
The exhibit is being made possible through the partnership of the (DAV) and the Guadalupe County Veterans Council.
The unveiling will include a military flyover at 12:30 p.m. featuring both fixed and rotary wing aircraft from the Texas Air National Guard. Food trucks, local performers — including the Seguin High School Mariachi Band — and color guards will also be participating.
Organizers say The Seguin Field of Honor® will also be a unique piece to the traveling exhibit. Approximately 300 American flags, each dedicated to a veteran, active-duty service member, or first responder have been planted across the baseball field and will remain on display through November 15.
Howze says the significance of today impacts most if not all families and encourages the community to come out and show its support.
“You can’t hardly find a family that does not have a member or a dependent of a service member that is associated with serving with the military,” said Howze. “It’s one of the highest forms of service you can do for the country and right now, there’s people in far off lonely places serving our country doing things. We do it so other people don’t have to, and the Wall is a reminder that we have signed a document that says we will ultimately defend that country.”
Howze says today’s events and those set for this week are the results of a true team and community effort.
“I can’t say enough about the help that the city of Seguin and Guadalupe County have given us in helping to bring this also,” said Howze. “In particular, the city of Seguin and the parks and recreation department — they have played a really big role in stepping up and helping us bring it here and making it happen.”
Again, the wall and Field of Honor will remain open to the public 24 hours a day through Saturday, November 15. Admission is free.