On Saturday, November 8, 2025, in Morehead City, Carteret County will host its annual Veterans Day Parade at 11 am . This has been the longest-running and largest Veterans Day Parade in North Carolina for many years.

A number of things converge to make this event historic and special:-

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War,- The Parade Grand Marshall is a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient from the first major battle of the Vietnam War, the battle of Ia Drang, and in fact the movie “We Were Soldiers” was made about him – Col. Walter “Joe” Marm, Jr., US Army, (Ret.)

Vietnamese highlanders, known as the “Montagnards” worked with US and allied Special Forces in Vietnam to defeat the Vietcong. A couple thousand of them relocated to North Carolina after the War, and a representative Montagnards contingent will be in the Parade and in the reviewing stand,- Some US Special Forces members who worked with the Montagnards will also join us in the reviewing stand,

The Parade Emcee will be Maj. General Tom Braatan, USMC (Ret.), former Commanding General of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, and in addition to the Marine Corps 2nd Marine Air Wing Band, The American Legion, the Vietnam Veterans of America, Disabled American Veterans, Military Order of the Purple Heart (and much more),

The Patriot Guard Riders will be joining the Parade, and there is reserved reviewing stand seating for Vietnam Veterans in honor of the 50th anniversary of the end of the war, (first come first serve).

The Parade Committee Chairman is Lt. Col. Steven “Pete” Benton, USAF (Ret.), former Officer In Charge of the USAF Presidential Honor Guard for President Reagan (both terms) and President George H. W. Bush.