VP Campos, Coach Souers to Participate in Armed Forces Day Parade

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Northern Arizona University Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Lisa Campos and Head Football Coach Jerome Souers will participate in the annual Armed Forces Day Parade, hosted by the Military Order of the Purple Heart. The parade will take place 10 a.m. Saturday, May 19 in downtown Flagstaff. Voice of the Lumberjacks Mitch Strohman will serve as the parade announcer.

This year's parade theme is "Welcome Home." The parade will honor and welcome home returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan and recognize veterans of all eras including World War II, Korea, Vietnam and the Cold War.

The parade is also an Arizona State Centennial Celebration. The parade route will go from Cherry Avenue to San Francisco Street, south to Aspen Avenue, west to Beaver Street and north back to Cherry Avenue.

Honorary Grand Marshals will be Jay R. Vargas, director of Arizona Department of Veteran Services, and Robert Halliday, director of Arizona Department of Public Safety.  Vargas is a former NAU baseball player and is a member of the NAU Athletics Hall of Fame.

Parade Marshals will be Joey Strickland, director of Arizona Department of Veteran Services; Arizona Veterans' Services Advsory Commission members Terrie Gent, Philip Hanson, Ron Perkins Wayne and Lionel Sanchez; Rex Lee Jim, Vice President Navajo Nation; Ltc. Dale Oldham, Garrison Commander at Camp Navajo; Alex Romero, Marine Corps League, State Commandant; Ron Capek, State Commander, Military Order of The Purple Heart; William Redpath, SW Director Scottish American Military Society; and Bob Hysko, Veterans of Foreign Wars.