Event Detail
Salute the Troops Parade
Location: Downtown Raleigh
Date: Saturday April 26th, 2008
Time: 10 am-12 noon
The largest military parade in North Carolina’s history is coming to Downtown Raleigh. On April 26 the Capital City will be the setting of Salute to Our Troops, a day-long show of appreciation to the men, women and families of the United States military.
The festivities will start with a buzz at 10 a.m. with a flyover straight up Fayetteville Street by F-15E Strike Eagle jet aircraft from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. This flyover will signal the start of the parade that will feature:
Personnel from the Marines, Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, North Carolina National Guard and each service’s reserve group; Military bands; Drill teams; Honor guards;
Vehicles, including military armored personnel carriers, mobile missile launch systems, medical transport equipment and other tactical assets; The USO mobile unit; Floats featuring the members of military families; and, Marching bands from universities, colleges and high schools from throughout North Carolina (including Raleigh’s Athens Drive and Broughton and a composite of approximately 200 student musicians from Wake County high schools).
The parade will head north from the intersection of Fayetteville and Davie streets to the Capitol, then north encircling the state government complex. The end of the parade marks the start of a day-long celebration of the “Salute.” The activities include:
11:30 a.m.
Static display area on Jones Street between Wilmington and Blount streets, of equipment used by the military, including weaponry, armored vehicles, marine rescue, climbing walls and other equipment
11:30 a.m.
At least three NASCAR teams’ show cars will be on display in the Halifax Mall area, along with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and the NASCAR Nationwide Series show cars for 2008
11:30 a.m.
Military personnel and their families will be invited to enjoy rides, games, slides and an obstacle course
11:30 a.m.
center stage will feature musical entertainment provided by the USO of North Carolina;
12:00 p.m.
Military personnel and their families will be served lunch produced, prepared and presented by the Pork Council of North Carolina and served by volunteers;
12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences and the N.C. Museum of History are open to the public free of charge. Marbles Kids Museum will be open free of charge to military personnel and their families; and,
Visit: www.saluteournctroops.org
Associated Street Closures:
The parade will begin assembling at 8 am along the 00 through 300 blocks of S Salisbury Street, between Edenton and Davie Streets. At 10 am the parade will begin at the intersection of Davie and Fayetteville Streets. They will proceed north on Fayetteville to Morgan Street, west on Morgan to Salisbury Street, and north on Salisbury. The group will continue north on Salisbury circling the Archdale Building onto Wilmington Street and will enter onto the Halifax Mall off of Wilmington. There will be further festivities on the Halifax Mall.
The following streets will be closed from 8 am until the conclusion of the parade: S Salisbury Street between Morgan and Cabarrus Streets; W Hargett, W Martin, and W Davie Streets between Wilmington and McDowell Streets; and the 400 block of Fayetteville Street.