The Carbon County Veterans Council has announced the annual Carbon County Veterans Day Parade will be held Sunday in Jim Thorpe.

This year’s parade will step off at 2 p.m. and is hosted by the Dolan-Jones-Martino American Legion Post 0304. The rain date is Nov. 14.

Grand marshal

The grand marshal this year is Robert Alvin Strohl Sr., a lifetime resident of upper Jim Thorpe. Strohl served honorably in the U.S. Army from January 1952 through December 1954.

He was assigned to Camp Roberts, California, for basic training, Camp Cooke, California, then to Eucom and 524th Military Police Battalion in LaRochelle, France, then to Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, for discharge and five years of inactive Reserves.

Strohl has been a member of the American Legion Post #304 for 68 years, and served as the commander from 1969 through 1970, adjutant for 16 years, sergeant-at-arms for four years, and chaplain for six years.

He also ran two Carbon County Veterans Day parades. Strohl is a lifetime member of the Marion Hose Company since 1958, a member of the Jim Thorpe Fire Police for four years and was the parade marshal in the 100-year observance of the fire company in 1966.

Strohl retired from Ametek Westchester Plastics in 1998 where he worked as a forklift operator and warehouseman. He is a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Jim Thorpe and serves as head usher.

He has been married to Barbara A. Redline Strohl for 64 years and has a son, Robert, residing in Waterford, Connecticut, and is the great-grandfather to Kaitlyn Marie Strohl.

Parade information

The parade will be telecast live on Blue Ridge Communications TV 13 with the reviewing stand directly in front of the America Legion Post 0304 on Sixth Street.

Monetary awards will be presented to the best appearing Color Guard, best appearing band, and best appearing float. Judges will be Jim Thorpe Mayor Michael Sofranko and his wife, Therese, and council President Greg Strubinger, and his wife, Rose Marie.

Free American celebration flags will be distributed throughout the parade while supplies last.

Parade participants are required to register, before arriving at their designated division, at the Jim Thorpe High School, 1 Olympian Way and Fern Street.

Lineups start forming at 11 a.m. and all participants are asked to be in place by 1:45 p.m. The parade will start promptly at 2 p.m.

The parade will exit the Jim Thorpe High School, turn left onto Center Street, proceed to Ninth Street and turn right onto Ninth Street to North Street. At North Street the parade will turn left and proceed to Sixth Street and will then turn left onto Sixth Street. A brief service will be held in front of the American Legion. At Sixth Street and Center Street, the parade will turn right onto Center Street and proceed to Third Street, where it will disband. Participants and volunteers can board the shuttle buses located on Second Street to be transported back to the Jim Thorpe High School. Masks will be required to be on worn on the shuttle buses.

Route 903 traffic between Fifth and 10th streets will be detoured from 1:45 p.m. until the parade passes Fifth Street. The detour will pass Evergreen Street and St. Joseph’s Cemetery.

Lineup

Division 1: Jim Thorpe Police Department with Mayor Michael Sofranko and Chief Joe Schatz; American Legion Post 304, Jim Thorpe - Color Guard; Grand Marshal: Robert A. Strohl, Sr.; Jim Thorpe Olympian Marching Band & Cheerleaders; American Legion Auxiliary Unit 304; Carbon County Veterans Affairs Director, Christine LeClair; Navy Club of Carbon County Ship 260 NCUSA; Carbon County Sheriff’s Office; State Rep. Doyle Heffley; Congressman Dan Meuser’s Office Represented by Tom and Susie Gerhard; Carbon County Board of Commissioners; Carbon County Controller Mark Sverchek; Carbon County Prothonotary Kayla Semmel; Carbon County Recorder of Deeds Donna Gentile; Carbon County Republican Committee; Jim Thorpe Borough Council; Girl Scout Troop 30903; Girl Scout Troop Service Unit 309; Cub Pack 138; Boy Scout Troop 138; Jukebox Cruisers Car Club; Jim Thorpe Municipal Fire Department; Lake Harmony Volunteer Fire Company.

Division 2: Lehighton UVO - American Legion Post 314 and AMVETS Post 106; American Legion Post 314 Auxiliary; Lehighton Area High School “Indian Pride” Marching Band; Schuylkill-Carbon Marine Corps League; Carbon County Fair Queen Caitlin Smith; Yenser’s Tree Farm; Rajah Shrine Angler’s Club; Gregory A Badger Calliope; Lehighton Ambulance Association; Lehighton Fire Department; Mahoning Valley Volunteer Fire Company.

Division 3: Vietnam Veterans of Carbon County Color Guard; Weatherly Area High School Marching Band; American Legion Post 123 and Post 316; Panther Valley JROTC; Bagpiper - Christine Barnes; Nesquehoning UVO Color Guard; Nesquehoning UVO Members; Nesquehoning UVO Poppy Vehicle; Boy Scouts Pack 765; Russel’s Posse Classic Cars; American Legion Post 170; Coaldale Volunteer Fire Company No. 1; Hauto Volunteer Fire Company; New Columbus Fire Company; American Fire Company No. 1; Diligence Fire Company No. 1.

Division 4: United Veterans of Palmerton Color Guard; United Veterans Legion Post 269 and VFW Post 7134, Commander’s; Palmerton Area High School Blue Bomber Marching Band; Palmerton Area Girl Scouts; Boy Scout Troop 209 of Towamensing Township; United Veterans - Sgt. Ed Baranski; United Veterans - Joe Plechavy Jr.; American Legion Post 269 - Larry Buck; United Veterans - Jack Mack, Shawn Smith; Greg Serfass Military Transport Truck; American Legion Post 16 - Mike Marino; Veterans Assisted Living Outreach (Valor); Bowmanstown Fire Department; Palmerton Fire Department; Aquashicola Volunteer Fire Company; Santa and Mrs. Claus, Forks of the Delaware Tin Lizzies.