The charter of the Texas Veterans Parade is simple, yet powerful:
"To honor Texas Veterans from all wars and conflicts, to educate children/students about Freedom, Liberty and the sacrifices of Veterans"
Texas Military Veterans are citizen-soldiers who have unfailingly answered the call of duty from the time of the Alamo and San Jacinto, to Gettysburg, and Chickamauga, to Anzio, and the Battle of Midway, from Vietnam to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Texas Veterans were led by courageous leaders like "Victory or Death" William Barrett Travis, Mirabeau B. Lamar, John Bell Hood, Chester W. Nimitz, and Richard Edward Cavazos.
Over 50 Texans have received the Congressional Medal of Honor, including 31 in World War II, 13 in Vietnam. Corsicana's own Candelario "Spider" Garcia is one of these heroes.
Bill McNutt III, the son of a World War II Army Sergeant, is the Founder of the Texas Veterans Parade, Corsicana. A 1973 graduate of Corsicana High School, Bill was named to the Texas Football Magazine 25th Silver Anniversary Football team for Corsicana, earned his MBA from Vanderbilt University, and served in the Reagan White House.
Mr. McNutt worked for World War II hero George Herbert Walker Bush on three separate occasions, including the 1988-89 President Transition Team. Bill found business success in Silicon Valley, helping more than 80 tech startup companies. All the while, he never lost his deep love for the people and traditions of Navarro County, where Corsicana serves as the county seat.
One evening Mr. McNutt asked his 9-year-old daughter Slone what she thought Corsicana could do to honor Texas Veterans. She unhesitatingly said: "Daddy, have a parade. Soldiers like to march and kids love a parade."
McNutt was assisted by Parade Chairman Joe Hill, retired Navy Captain. On January 25, 2019, after months of planning, McNutt convened a meeting of like-minded citizens at the public library with the goal of doing the Inaugural Texas Veterans Parade on the date assigned by Corsicana Mayor Don Denbow, Saturday, May 18, 2019.
"In all that we do", says Mr. McNutt, "we channel the energy, love, and duty to Texas displayed by our two local heroes Jose Antonio Navarro, one of the first signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution of the Republic of Texas. And, Candelario 'Spider' Garcia, our Medal of Honor recipient from Vietnam. Both men are represented by splendid statues on the Navarro County courthouse lawn. José Navarro also selected the name, Corsicana, for our town."
"From the defenders of the Alamo to Johnny Reb, from Doughboys to World War II GI's and on to the War on Terror, the Texas Veteran embodies duty, honor, and country," says Mr. McNutt. "They deserve a tribute parade every day of the year. We only ask our fellow Texans to bring their children and turn out one day a year to honor all Texas Veterans from all wars and conflicts."
"We can retire from our jobs, even our civic organizations, but we can never retire from gratitude and the admonishment of the Bible that tells us to honor our mothers and our fathers. I do my work in honor of a World War II Sgt, L. William McNutt, Jr., who was my father and a 1942 graduate of Corsicana High School."
Texas Veterans Parade Board of Directors
- Bill McNutt, Founder and Chairman
- Aaron Johnson, CEO
- Chris Farmer, CFO
- Maj. Kevin Eubanks, Parade Chair
- Carole Davenport, Banquet Chair
- Stacie Sipes, Executive Director of Marketing, Navarro College
Advisors
- Mike Fletcher, Mayor of Corsicana
- Congressman Joe Barton, (Served 1985-2019)
- Judge HW Davenport, County Judge, Navarro County.
- Dr. Danny Reeves, former President, Baptist General Convention of Texas
- Cathy Ehlers, Medal of Honor Foundation, daughter of Walter Ehlers, 1944 MOH, Normandy France
- Dawn O'Brien Williamson, Gold Star Mother
- Connie Standridge, City Manager, Corsicana Texas
Founding Directors / Directors Emeritus
- U.S. Navy Captain Joe Hill, Governor Beauford Jester Award winner, 2019
- Judy Dunavant, James Acree Award winner, 2019
- Ned Easterling, Veteran
- Kay Hable, Civic Leader
- Barbara Watkins, James Acree Award winner, 2020
- Rachel Hawthorne, Gold Star Wife, Navarro College
- Thomas McNutt, Collin Street Bakery
- Kathy Meistschleager, Governor Beauford Jester Award winner 2020
- Dan Summerall, Veteran
Out of town Board Members / Advisors
- Mr. Michael Durante, Former Federal Reserve Bank Office, co-owner Paving Technologies, Dallas
- Dr. Lori Anna Dees, DDS, MBA Yale University, Dallas
- Jake Mienk, Publisher Corsicana Daily Sun newspaper, East Texas
- Richardson Roberts, Nashville, Tennessee
- Sylvia Navarro Tillotson, Direct Descendant of Jose Antonio Navarro, Founder of Navarro County
- Judge William Doug Wallace, District Judge, Waxahachie, Texas
- Scott Spears, attorney, Austin, Texas
- Felix Acree, oil executive, Woodlands, Texas
Mission Statement
"To honor Texas Veterans from all wars and conflicts, and to educate children/students about Freedom, Liberty and the sacrifices of Veterans.".
The Texas Veterans Parade fulfills its mission by:
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Presenting an annual military parade in Corsicana, Texas with a Medal of Honor recipient as Grand Marshal
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Presenting a concurrent Medal of Honor Banquet/Event the evening before the parade
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Present awards to citizens who demonstrate their patriotism and love for veterans through their service to the community
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Bring speakers, military reenactors, and presentations to schools to teach students about the role of veterans in American History, Liberty, and Freedom
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Sponsoring "Medal of Honor" Football Trophies between high schools that play regularly and have a Medal of Honor recipient as alumni
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The creation of monuments to honor the sacrifices of Veterans and to beautify public spaces
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Encouraging other smaller patriotic cities to host annual parades and programs honoring veterans of the U.S. armed forces