The Carbon County Veterans Day Parade will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday in Nesquehoning. The rain date is Nov. 16.

Henry Desrosiers, director of the county Department of Veterans Affairs, said this year's theme is "Honoring All Who Served" and is hosted by the Nesquehoning United Veterans Organization.He urged all county residents to come support the parade because it is a great way for people to thank all those who served our country, protecting our freedoms.The grand marshalThe grand marshal of the parade is Walter E. Strohl Sr., who was born and raised in Nesquehoning. He was drafted into the United States Army in 1959. He departed from Mauch Chunk with the blessing of Monsignor Angelo Angelini.He took basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, before being ordered to Fort Benning, Georgia, where he was with the 29th Infantry.He served as a member of the Nesquehoning American Legion Post 172 Honor Guard and his one great honor was standing in ranks for President Dwight D. Eisenhower.He served as the commander of the post from 1987-1989 and has held many of the offices from then until now.Currently he is the sergeant-at-arms. He has 48 years of continuous membership and is a lifetime member of American Legion Post 172. He is also a member of Nesquehoning VFW Post 8008.Strohl is married to his lifelong friend Margaret Ann (Hrinda) for 53 years. They were married June 15, 1960, in the chapel at Fort Benning. They have three children, Walter Jr. and Jeffrey, both of Nesquehoning, and Pamela Ann, wife of George B. Keegan, of Penn Forest Township; and one granddaughter, Sierra Marie Keegan.Strohl is a very grateful American to have served our country from 1959 until 1963, when he was honorably discharged.The paradeThe parade will be telecast live on Blue Ridge Communications TV 13 with the reviewing stand directly in front of the Nesquehoning Apartment Building (former Nesquehoning High School) on Catawissa Street. Free American flags will be distributed to children at the reviewing stand while supplies last.Parade participants are required to register at the Nesquehoning Recreation Street, 335 W. Railroad St.Lineups start forming at 12:30 p.m. and all participants are asked to be in place by 1:45 p.m. Participants and volunteers are invited to the VFW at 300 E. Center St. for complimentary refreshments immediately following the parade.The parade will begin on the west end of Nesquehoning and travel East along Catawissa Street.DivisionsDivision 1 will be located in Kovatch's Parking Lot off West Railroad Street. It includes: Nesquehoning Police Department, Chief Sean Smith and Mayor Sam Kitchko; The Pennsylvania State Police Mounted Patrol Unit; United Veterans Organization Honor Guard, Nesquehoning; Parade Grand Marshal Walter E. Strohl Sr.; Panther Valley High School Marching Band; VFW Post 8008 Chaplain Ted Dacey and American Legion Post 172 Past Commander Ed Watkins; state Rep. Doyle Heffley; Carbon County Sheriff Dwight Nothstein; VFW Post 8008 Ladies Auxiliary Poppy king, queen and court; American Legion Post 316 Honor Guard, Summit Hill; Carbon County Veterans Affairs Henry Desrosiers; Carbon County Commissioners Wayne Nothstein and Thomas J. Gerhard; Vietnam Veterans Organization of Carbon County; Nesquehoning Girl Scouts; Panther Valley JROTC Color Guard and Battalion; Blue Eagle Alumni Drum & Bugle Corps; VFW Post 8008, M923A2 5 Ton Cargo Truck and Troop Carrier; American Legion Post 123 Riders, Lansford; American Fire Company No. 1, Lansford; Diligence Fire Company No. 1, Summit Hill; Coaldale Volunteer Fire Company No. 1.Division 2 will be located on West Railroad Street between McDonald's and Kovatch's Corporate Office. It includes: United Veterans Organization, honor guard, Lehighton; Lehighton Area High School Indian Pride Band; American Legion Post Auxiliary 314, Lehighton; American Legion Post Auxiliary 314 Miss Poppy, Lehighton; Yenser's Tree Farm, Trees for Troops; Carbon County Lions Lioness Fair Association, Fair Queen & Court; Girl Scout Service Unit 734 (Daisy 33, Brownie 3862, Junior 3241, Cadette 3583, Ambassador 3510); Boy Scout Troop 82;Stan Zabo's Antique Cars; Rajah Shrine Oriental Band; Carbon County Shrine Club; Rajah Shrine Anglers Club; Forks of the Delaware Tin Lizzies; Gregory A. Badger Musical Act, Air Calliope; Regional EMS and Critical Care; Lehighton Fire Department.Division 3 will be located at Kovatch's Corporate Office Parking Lot at 1 Industrial Complex. It includes: United Veterans Organization Color Guard, Palmerton; Palmerton Area High School Marching Band; Carbon County Inter Post Past Commander Robert Solt with Marine Sgt. James Giomini; American Legion Post 269, Palmerton, Joseph Uhnak and Steve Vlossak; VFW Post 7134, Palmerton, Commander Charlie Dunbar; American Legion Post 269, Palmerton, 1942 World War II Jeep Joe Plechavy III; Carbon County Sheriff's Office, Sheriff Dwight Nothstein; R.W. Fritzinger VFW Post 7215 Ladies Auxiliary, Walnutport; Perseverance Jazz Band; Cub Scout Pack 41, Palmerton; Boy Scout Troop 20, Palmerton; Navy Club of Carbon County, Ship 260; Allen O. Delke American Legion Post 16, Slatington M36A2 Military Cargo Truck; West End Fire Company, Palmerton.Division 4 will be located at Kovatch's Ford Service. It includes: American Legion Post 304 Color Guard, Jim Thorpe; American Legion Post 304, Jim Thorpe; Jim Thorpe Olympian High School Band; Girl Scout Troop 30134, Jim Thorpe; Cub Scout Pack 597, Albrightsville; Schuylkill-Carbon Marine Corps League Honor Guard, Detachment 626; Leiby's Carriage Service, Sponsored by Yuengling Brewery; Boyle Williams Post 383 and Memorial Post 8225 VFW, Beaver Meadows; American Legion Post 360, Weatherly; Weatherly Area High School Band; Jukebox Cruisers Car Club; Jim Thorpe Fire Department; Mahoning Valley Volunteer Fire Company No. 1; Aquashicola Volunteer Fire Company.