It’s back! Civic Veterans Parade set for Sunday

A beloved Kenosha tradition is back.

The Kenosha Civic Veterans Parade will take place Sunday (June 27) to help celebrate Independence Day and honor veterans. 

The event will begin at 1 p.m. at Washington Road and Seventh Avenue. It will continue south through Sixth Avenue downtown and end at Library Park. This year’s event presented by Snap-on has a new route to better accommodate crowds.

Kris Kochman, the city’s community relations liaison, has organized the parade since 2012. It was cancelled last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I’m very happy that we’re able to have the parade.”

– Kris Kochman, Civic Veterans Parade organizer

This year’s theme is “Centennial Celebration: Women’s RIght to Vote.”

“Last year was the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment but we weren’t able to have the parade last year,” Kochman said, adding some portions of the parade will honor the suffrage movement. 

“The Danish Sisterhood is doing an entry called ‘Women and Their Bicycles.’ According to their entry, the bicycle has been a symbol of equality among the people of Denmark allowing women freedom and liberty to vote, travel and be themselves.”

Kochman hopes the parade draws a large crowd. 

“I’m very happy that we’re able to have the parade,” Kochman said, adding she wasn’t sure what to expect this year. “Planning for the parade starts quite a few months in advance.”

Kochman said she was hoping for at least 50 parade participants. Fortunately, more than 80 organizations, community leaders and performers will take part. 

“That includes everything from veteran’s organizations, floats, musical acts, pageant winners and elected officials,” she said. “We’ve got a whole smorgasbord of entries.”

Kochman said she’s “especially excited” for this year’s parade because it feels like “we haven’t had it for so long.”

She said she’s also thankful for the opportunity to publicly honor veterans.

“It’s the Kenosha Civic Veterans Parade, so a big part of the parade is honoring our veterans,” she said. “This year we are honoring both the 2019 and 2020 hometown heroes of the year. We’re really grateful to honor them for their service.”

Parade schedule

PRE-PARADE 

Marshal: Anthony Kennedy 

• 1. American Legion Riders – District 1
• 2. VFW Riders Post 1865
• 3. Community Bike Parade
• 4. American Legion Post 21 Color Guard
• 5. Kenosha Police Department
• 6. Officer Friendly Tyler Cochran
• 7. Kenosha Fire Department
• 8. Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department
• 9. Multi-jurisdictional Motor Corps
• 10. Scout Leaders Rescue
• 11. McDevitt’s Towing and Repair
• 12. Kenosha History Center Classic Cars
• 13. Jensen Towing
• 14. Midwest Armor Museum

DIVISION 1

(Sponsored by Kenosha Kingfish) 

Marshals: Michelle Nelson and Melissa Ballard 

BANNERS: 

Snap-on Banner 

Division 1 Banner 

Kenosha Kingfish Banner

• 1. BAND: Lutheran Vanguard of Wisconsin
• 2. Kenosha Women Marching for the Vote
• 3. Miss Kenosha 2020-2021: Alex Daher
• 4. Women’s Club of Kenosha
• 5. Kenosha Area Vietnam Veterans
• 6. FLOAT: Mr. Blue Sings
• 7. Cirques Experience/Wheel Jam
• 8. FLOAT: Danish Sisterhood of America (Women and their Bicycles)
• 9. Hometown Hero 2019: Dennis Warren
• 9a Hometown Hero 2020: Pamela Mundling
• 10. Angels of Hope
• 11. Kenosha Knights of Columbus
• 12. BAND: Lunde
• 13. Parade Float Judges: Clara Tappa and Kevin Poirier
• 14. U.S. Rep. Brian Steil
• 15. Lake Shore Pedal Tours
• 16 FLOAT: Snap-on
• 17. Jesse White Tumbling Team

DIVISION 2

(Sponsored by Jockey International) 

Marshals: Emma Reed, Tony Darre, Nora Krystowiak, and Ryann Robinson 

BANNERS: 

Snap-on Banner 

Division 2 Banner 

Jockey International Banner 

• 1. T.J. Howell’s Rocket Cycle
• 2. BAND: Kenosha Pops Concert Band
• 3. FLOAT: Navy Club of Kenosha Ship No. 40
• 4. Cancellation
• 5. Kenosha DeMolay Chapter
• 6. FLOAT: Bradford Cheerleading Team
• 7. Classic Ms Sweetheart America; Tracy Stein-Griffin
• 8. Kenosha Academy of Performing Arts
• 9. State Rep. Tip McGuire
• 10. BAND: Auto-American
• 11. State Rep. Tod Ohnstad
• 12. UW-Parkside / College of Social Sciences and Professional Studies 13. State Senator Bob Wirch
• 14. FLOAT: Moose Lodge 286
• 15. Miss Bristol: Haley Gorsuch
• 16. Zumba with Lili
• 17. TeBala Motor Patrol

DIVISION 3

(Sponsored by Festival Foods) 

Marshals: Ann Wilson, Curt Wilson, Rollin Pizzala, and Evelyn Pizzala 

BANNERS: 

Snap-on Banner 

Division 3 Banner 

Festival Foods Banner 

• 1. BAND: CYO Emerald Knights Band and Colorguard
• 2. County Board Supervisor Zach Rodriquez
• 3. Municipal Court Judge Michael Easton
• 4. BAND/FLOAT: The Greasers
• 5. Miss Midwest High School United States 2021: Liberty Ludwig and Miss USA Ambassador Great Lakes Teen; Mariah Bader
• 6. Miss Sunshine State USA Ambassador 2021: Avalon Border
• 7. USA Ambassador 2021: Maya Guzman and Jessey Leisso
• 8. FLOAT: Garden of Eatin’
• 9. BAND: Elite Striders Drill Team
• 10. Kenosha Public Library
• 11. Dr. Destruction’s Crimson Theatre
• 12. BAND: Vertigo
• 13. Kenosha.com
• 14. FLOAT: Republican Party of Kenosha County
• 15. State Bank of the Lakes

DIVISION 4

(Sponsored by First American Bank) 

BANNERS: 

Snap-on Banner 

Division 4 Banner 

First American Bank Banner 

Marshals: Samantha Schuirmann and Thomas Kochman 

• 1. Those Funny Little People
• 2. FLOAT: Hospice Alliance
• 3. Kenosha County Treasurer Teri Jacobson
• 4. Clerk of Circuit Court Rebecca Matoska-Mentink and County Clerk Regi Bachochin
• 5. Sleep in Heavenly Peace
• 6. National Sweetheart Little Miss: Evangeline Azure
• 7. Tavern League of Wisconsin Safe Ride Program
• 8. Kenosha Community Media
• 9. Human First Project
• 10. Care Animal Hospital
• 11. FLOAT: Kenosha County Democratic Party
• 12. Kenosha Green Congregations
• 13. Fairytale Birthday Company
• 14. Tabak Law LLC
• 15. Otto Nelson Moving and Storage
• 16. BAND: River City Rhythm
• 17. City Bus