Chris Snow is passionate about honoring veterans and has planned a parade celebrating veterans for 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 11, preceding the 10 a.m. Veterans Day ceremony at Pea Ridge High School.
Not only is he a veteran, but he comes from a long line of veterans.
Veterans Day
Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2014
8:15 a.m. Parade line up begins
9-10 a.m. Parade
10 a.m. Ceremony at Pea Ridge High School gym
"As a veteran, I've attended several Veterans Day ceremonies at Pea Ridge High School," Snow said, adding that he has worked with city officials to organize the parade.
Floats will line up beginning at 8:15 a.m. behind the high school. The parade route will go from the high school east on Pickens Road to downtown, south on North Curtis Avenue, west on McCulloch Street, north on Weston Street and back to the high school.
"My thoughts are continuously on our nation's veterans, those who have served, those who have been KIA/MIA, and those who continue to serve," Snow said. "My family and I have traveled thousands of miles in an effort to pay our respects to numerous veterans who have been KIA by visiting their grave sites, visiting with those who have fought in WW II, Korea, Vietnam and those who are still serving today.
"I think a Veterans Day Parade is the absolute least that we can do to show appreciation for our veterans and servicemen and women. I hope that the Pea Ridge community comes together and shows their support of this inaugural event, more importantly, their appreciation for our veterans," he concluded.
His great-grandfather, James F. Snow Sr. served in World War I in the Army in the 133rd Artillery.
Bill Snow Sr., Snow's paternal grandfather, served in the Korean War in the Navy aboard the USS Ernest G. Small DD-838.
Wayne Wood, Snow's maternal grandfather, retired from the Navy after serving 23 years as Ordnanceman during the Vietnam War. He served on the USS Randolph CV-15, USS Intrepid CV-11, USS Independence CV-62, USS Forrestal CV-59, and the USS Kennedy CV-67.
Snow's brother, Devin Snow is currently serving in the Arkansas Army National Guard stationed out of Fort Chaffee.
His great uncle, James F. Snow Jr., served in World War II in the Army in the 166th AAA Gun Battalion.
Snow's wife's grandfather, Daryl Greene, served in World War II with the Army Air Corp where he was the belly gunner in a B-24 called "Wonderous Wanda" and received the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Snow's wife's other grandfather, Louis Hutcheson, served in the National Guard and then the Army during the Korean War.
Three of Snow's uncles served -- David Musteen served in the Ark. Army National Guard; AECS (AW) Gary Brown served in the Navy for 30 years aboard several ships as well; and Doug Wood served in the Navy.
His cousin, Jamie Brown, served in the Navy; and another cousin, Tate Snow left for Navy Boot camp in Great Lakes, Ill., on Oct. 8.
Community on 11/05/2014