Veterans Day Parade to have two Grand Marshals

Brown, Fiveash will lead honorees in Saturday celebration

By DON WILBURN

donaldfwilburn@gmail.com

Americans are known by many stereotypes worldwide and while one might accuse us of many things, one cliché that without a doubt certainly rings true is that there is no lack of patriotism and support of our troops and veterans. In this year’s West Memphis Veterans Day Parade perhaps doubly so in that there will not be one Grand Marshal of the parade, but in a first, two Co-Grand Marshals: Doreen Brown and Jim Fiveash.

Brown, a proud resident of Marion, is the Post Commander of VFW Post 5225 in West Memphis and served in the Army Chaplain Corps from 1987 until 1999, when she was honorably discharged with the rank of Staff Sargent.

Brown was stationed in many locations overseas including Korea and Afghanistan, but says her favorite by far was Germany. As part of her duties in the Chaplain Corps she served primarily as protection, including bodyguard and driver, for Chaplains, who themselves were not permitted to be armed.

“Things seem to have gotten better for vets” said Brown. “It has changed greatly from when the Vietnam vets came home, although some still feel left behind. They didn’t just serve for themselves, they served and represented the entire United States. We are a proud country and want everyone to have the freedoms we have. Every veteran deserves honor and respect regardless of rank because they picked up the baton from those that came before and continue to serve their community.”

One of those Vietnam

See MARSHALS, page A3

BROWN

FIVEASH MARSHALS

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veterans is Jim Fiveash, of West Memphis, who shares the honor of co-grand marshal with Brown. Fiveash was the Commander of the American Legion from 2013 to 2023 and served in the US Navy from 1970 to 1974 and achieved the rank of E-4 or Petty Of_cer.

He says that he has pretty much seen most of the world, except South America, while he spent two years serving on the USS Saratoga off the coast of Vietnam where he performed his duties as an Aviation Store Keeper.

“I was one of the mistreated veterans when I came back” Fiveash said, but not wishing to elaborate further as he continued. “But America has come to understand in the last decade or so how important veterans are. They hold the country together. I’m, simply abbergasted to be chosen as co-Grand Marshal. I didn’t serve for the glory. I served because I love America. But to be recognized is truly an honor.”

Brown and Fiveash will both be seen at the upcoming Veterans Day Parade to be held this Saturday, Nov. 11, beginning at 10 a.m.

The route will begin at the West Memphis Christian Academy on Missouri and end at the VFW on Avalon where a lunch and ceremony will be held. Line up for the parade begins at 8:45 a.m. For more information, please contact the West Memphis Chamber of Commerce at 870-7351134.