New Route For Vets’ Day Parade Nov. 13, Ends at VFW Location

The 2016 Veterans’ Parade will be held on Sunday, Nov.13 beginning at 1 p.m., and the parade route has been changed This year’s parade marshal is Pat Stinnett, who was last year’s Veteran of the Year. Tony Colombo from FM News Talk 97.1 will be emcee.

Guest speaker this year will be Frank J. Mantia.  He began his military career in Oct. 1970, serving in the United States Army prior to retiring from active duty in May 2000.  His last assignment was serving as a CSM for the Space and Missile Defense Command from Feb. 1998 to March 2000. Frank proudly served his country and was given numerous awards and decorations, which included the Distinguished Service Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, and many more. Frank is now retired, spending his time volunteering with the Missouri USO and is chairperson for the Gateway Chapter 82nd Airborne Association.

John F. “Frank” Demos has been named 2016 Florissant Veteran of the Year. (See full story on page 7.) Frank began his military career in the United States Army in 1965. In July 1967 he was assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Bien Hoa, Vietnam. Soon the 173rd moved to An Khe, in the central highlands of Vietnam, where he saw combat.

After leaving the military, Demos moved to Florissant in 1985 with his family. Realizing the need for a VVA Chapter, and with the help of another Vietnam vet, in 1995 the VVA Chapter 794 was established.  Frank has served as President several times. In his first term he and members of the VVA Chapter added to the Vietnam War Memorial monument at Koch Park more names of soldiers killed in Vietnam from the Florissant-Hazelwood area.

In 2003, Frank was President again and the VVA Chapter 794 was instrumental in bringing the Vietnam Moving Wall to Florissant. (More on Frank Demos on page7.)

A totally new route will be used for the Veterans’ Day Parade on Sunday, Nov. 13. Parade participants will assemble and start the parade at Bangert Park and proceed north on Florissant Rd., then turn left on St. Francois and end the parade at the VFW, where the ceremony will take place to honor the 2016 Veteran of the Year.

This event was the suggestion of Norman Sirna, a member of the Veterans’ Commission. Mayor Tom Schneider and the City Council invite everyone to bring their children and/or grandchildren to this event and “salute the men and women who have, and continue to serve, this great country in the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard.”

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