WARSAW, N.C. – The town of Warsaw has been holding its annual Veterans Day Parade for the past 100 years. It's the oldest consecutive Veterans Day Parade in the nation and they are determined that the pandemic is not going to disrupt that tradition.

The challenge the parade faces now is raising enough money to put it on. The Warsaw Chamber of Commerce would normally host multiple fundraisers to bring in the thousands of dollars required to to host such an event. The pandemic has forced them to cancel all but one.

“Our fundraisers limits the amount of money we have available to spend on the parade,” says events coordinator for the Chamber of Commerce Carolyn Quinn. “Most people do not realize it costs about $18,000 to put on a parade.”

The people on the parade planning committee are unpaid volunteers who are going door-to-door, making phone calls, and sending emails on behalf of the Chamber. Chamber President Frank Rhodes says all donations are appreciated and needed now more than ever before.

“It is a bit of a show must go on situation for us,” Rhodes says. “We have every intention of having the parade this year, as the generations before us and the generations after us.”

This is an opportunity for the community to step up and show its support. The Chamber is relying on businesses and individuals who find meaning in the parade to keep it going this year.

Quinn isn't worried about the lack of support just yet, believing that as the date gets closer and people realize it won't be canceled, the entries and donations will start pouring in. She says half the battle is simply letting people know the parade is still on.

“If we only have firetrucks, and the mayor, and the town police department, that's who's going to be in the parade, but we're going to go on with the parade,” Quinn says.

This year's parade will go on as planned, with added modifications that align with CDC guidelines on safe practices during the virus. The city plans to utilize both sides of the highway along the parade route to ensure there are no crowds building up anywhere. Parade participants and viewers will be actively reminded to be practicing social distancing throughout the event.  

“This is going to be a little unique for us, but we have no doubt that we'll be able to do the things that we need to do to make it happen,” Rhodes says.