North Carolina Veterans Day Parade in Raleigh canceled, ceremony to proceed
The 2023 North Carolina Veterans Day Parade, scheduled for Saturday in downtown Raleigh, has been canceled, organizers say.
Terry Chatfield, of the Wake County Council of Veterans Organizations, says that although the parade is canceled, the ceremony will still go on at 11 a.m.
The ceremony will be taking place at war memorial on north side of Capitol building.
"I wish the city would have notified us weeks ahead we could of made attempts to do something different," said Richard Spyrison with the Wake County Council of Veterans. Spyrison has been busy this week as he's had to notify people the parade was canceled.
Raleigh communications director Robin Deacle said the city felt there was a risk to public safety. The city still encourages the public to attend the ceremony.
“The City of Raleigh had granted a parade permit to the Wake County Council of Veterans," Deacle said. "Upon further review this week, city staff recognized the size of the vehicle caravan planned through downtown created a risk to public safety. We spoke with the Veterans group about other options. They have since cancelled the parade and will continue with the ceremony at the Capitol at 11 a.m.”
This announcement comes after the city and the Greater Raleigh Merchants Association announced in September that it would hold the Raleigh Christmas Parade without vehicles. The Raleigh Christmas Parade is set for Nov. 18.
"[We are] trying to create consistency," Raleigh Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin wrote in a message.
The Raleigh Veteran’s Day Parade was planning to have about 150 vehicles.
"This was a staff decision designed to ensure consistency and safety for all parade events," Baldwin said.
Many Facebook users who commented on the WRAL post of the story were disappointed by the news.
Earlier, organizers were planning to hold the parade without motor vehicles, which came after Hailey Brooks was killed on Nov. 19, 2022, while dancing in the Raleigh Christmas Parade. The 11-year-old girl was dancing with the CC & Company Dance Complex in the parade when she was struck and killed by an out-of-control pickup truck that lost its brakes on Hillsborough Street near Boylan Avenue.
Spyrison has been making preparations for months and during phone calls, emails, and inspections, he said he never received indication vehicles would not be allowed.
The ceremony will honor more than 50,000 veterans who call Wake County home.
