Plans are in the works for a Memorial Day parade in Land O’ Lakes that will snake past the Baldomero Lopez Memorial Veterans Nursing Home at 6919 Parkway Blvd.
The parade will be on May 26 beginning at 8 a.m.. It will start at Dupree Lakes Boulevard, off Collier Parkway, and end just past the nursing home.
The Knights of Columbus Assembly 2741 and Council 8104 are organizing the parade, which is in its inaugural year.
Bob Barbero, co-chairman of the parade, said he hopes there will be enough interest to have the parade annually. At this point, organizers are looking for individuals, groups and organizations that want to take part.
So far, there are two high school bands and a middle school band that have signed on, and a couple classic car clubs are interested. Some floats are planned, and politicians have been invited. Already, Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco is expected to take part.
Barbero said it would be great if veteran organizations, school bands and other types of clubs and organizations want to join the parade. Anyone wishing to drive a vehicle in the parade will be asked to pay a nominal charge.
“Any monies that we raise over and above the cost of the parade will go to the homeless,” Barbero said, mentioning that those donations would be made through the sheriff’s office.
The parade is to honor men and women who have died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, Barbero said. By staging it near the veterans’ nursing home, the hope is that residents there will be able to enjoy the parade.
The parade also will help raise awareness regarding the Knights of Columbus, Barbero said. The group is a Catholic fraternal benefit society that was founded in New Haven, Conn., in 1882. The organization’s founding principles are charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism.
There are currently 1.8 million members in more than 14,000 councils worldwide.
Barbero’s council is affiliated with Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church in Land O’ Lakes.
For additional information on the parade, call Barbero at (813) 995-2736, or email him at .
Published March 12, 2014
