Beaches & Boots Line Dancers are part of the pre-parade entertainment.

Pre-parade activities include
performances by brass quintet, line dancers and Seabelles

WILMINGTON | Pre-Southeast North Carolina Veterans Parade activities will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in front of City Hall on Third Street.

Performances by the Beaches & Boots Line Dancers, the Veterans Day Brass Quintet, bagpiper Jack O’Connell, and the National Anthem as sung by the UNCW Seabelles are all part of the pre-parade entertainment.

As a special treat, the Bandit Flight Team will perform aerial maneuvers above the parade route in conjunction with the performance of the National Anthem.

New to this year’s pre-parade entertainment is the Veterans Day Brass Quintet. Members are Army retiree Stephen Luck, trumpet; Air Force veteran David Rainville, trumpet; Air Force retiree Cheryl Stamp, horn; Marine Corps retiree Rob McSherry, trombone; and Dan Johnson, tuba player.

Rainville also will play Reville to kick off the event and Taps at the end of the parade.

While it’s the first time the members will play together under that name, they all have performed together in various quintets and ensembles for several years. All are members of the Wilmington Virtuosi Brass, the Port City’s new British brass band.

Returning to pre-parade entertainment are the Beaches & Boots Line Dancers, formed more than 10 years ago at Carolina Beach. The group encompasses all ages and skill levels. They especially enjoy giving back to their community and can be seen dancing at local fundraisers and charity events throughout the year.

Continuing the tradition of performing the National Anthem at the parade is the Seabelles, an all-female a capella group from UNCW. The group serves to promote campus involvement, teach managerial and leadership skills to participants, and foster friendships.

Also as part of the pre-parade event there will be a speech by Molly Leese, CEO, executive coach and engaging speaker at Golden Age Leadership. Leese also is director of Employee Leadership, Learning and Engagement at UNCW.

The recent death of 37-year-old Hector Soto shook the local veteran community to its core. Soto, a Marine Corps veteran, businessman, and family man, took his own life in September 2024.

Hector, who was a parade supporter, had intended to speak during pre-parade activities about his and other veterans’ experiences. Instead, his friend Cory Coleman will read Soto’s speech.

As has been the tradition at the parade, Ethan Powell will lead those in attendance in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

If weather permits, a 40- by 60-foot American flag will be unfurled along the parade route by volunteers and bystanders.

The parade itself is scheduled to step off at 11 a.m., following Third Street from Hanover Street to Market Street.

A Veterans Celebration and Information Fair will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Eagles Dare, 420 N. Third St., in conjunction with the parade.

Pre-parade lineup starting at 10 a.m.

• Bugler Dave Rainville performs Reveille
• A Veterans Day Brass Quintet
• Hector Soto’s speech (read by Cory Coleman)
• Beaches & Boots Line Dancers
• Unfurling of 40- by 60-foot American flag (weather permitting)
• Mayor Bill Saffo
• Molly Leese, guest speaker
• Ethan Powell leading Pledge of Allegiance
• UNCW Seabelles sing National Anthem
• Bandit Flight Team flyovers
• Bagpiper Jack O’Connell performs as parade approaches