Parade Divisions Organization


We hope that publishing our organizational criteria will make clear the logic behind the parade organization, and reduce the request to move an organization to a specific division. Not everyone can be first and the division descriptions will identify why your group is in a specific division.

With well over 100 organizations and groups that want to participate in the San Diego County Veterans Day Parade, 145 in 2009, organization is key towards making an event that all can enjoy.

Pre-staging the order in which the participants proceed down the parade route keeps the parade flowing smoothing and quickly, hopefully without significant time delays between organizations and keeps the parade to the allowed time. Assigning participants to divisions and a numerical order in each division lets people know where they need to be and eliminates conflicts.  It also allows for the Announcers binder to be prepared with introductions of each parade unit.

  • The parade is to honor our veterans and their service; they are the first in order.
  • Active Duty military units are positioned in various areas throughout the parade.
  • Below are the Parade Divisions and examples of some of the groups in each division.

Division One:

  1. Honor Division – (Theme related / Grand Marshal, Honorary Grand Marshals)
  2. Older Veterans and Organizations – (Pearl Harbor Survivors, Ex-POW’s, The Chosin Few, Women’s Army Corps, Submarine Veterans, Distinguished Flying Cross Society, etc.)
  3. Disabled Veterans – (Cal-Diego PVA)
  4. Federal elected Officials – (with complete entry forms)

Division Two:

  • Major Veteran Service Organizations – (VFW, American Legion, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Vietnam Veterans of America, Jewish War Veterans, Montford Point Marines, etc.)
  • State elected Officials

Division Three:

  • Other Veterans Organizations – (Navy Nurse Corps, SD Buffalo Soldiers, MOAA, etc.)
  • County elected Officials

Division Four:

  • Organizations that support Veterans – (VA Healthcare System, VARO, VVSD, Club Vet, Operation Homefront, Blue Star Mothers, Eagle’s Wings, Mt. Soledad, etc.)
  • City elected Officials

Division Five:

  • Organizations that are in the Parade to show support for Veterans – (Scouts, Churches, Highway Patrol,  Fire Dept., Transportation Security Administration, Knights of Columbus, Sons of the American Revolution, Thunderbird Car Club, etc.)
  • Other attending Officials

Division Six:

  • If’ needed, groups that submit an entry after the parade order (of the Division and the Position) has been assigned, will then participate in this Division.

Bands / JROTC:

  • School Bands and JROTC’s are positioned throughout the parade to provide accompanying music and balance out the Divisions.

Active Duty military units are positioned in various areas throughout the parade.