This year’s parade will celebrate our community, family traditions and respect for Old Glory. The Parade will feature military units and military marching bands from throughout the nation — and will include about 100 total units. Participants include veterans' organizations, scout troops, patriotic floats, decorated vehicles, walking units, along with multiple marching bands.
U.S. flags will be handed out along the Parade route about one hour before the Parade begins. This project is a cooperative effort of the following organizations.
This year's Flag Day Parade will use the
traditional staging and route. For details
and a map, see the Route page.
Each year the City of Appleton Flag Day Parade’s Grand Marshal is the American Flag. "Old Glory" rides in the Parade's lead vehicle to kickoff the oldest Flag Day Parade in the nation.
In 1949 the Appleton Elks Club made the decision to honor the U.S. Flag with a community parade. The Elks, many of whom were WWII veterans, wanted each citizen to be proud to live in the United States of America and to appreciate their freedom. That same year, an Act of Congress signed by President Truman officially recognized June 14th as National Flag Day. The first Flag Day Parade in Appleton was held in 1950.
Brigadier General Rick A. Uribe,
Deputy Commanding General, I MEF Commanding General, 1st MEB
Brigadier General Uribe assumed his current duties during August 2017. He is from Hacienda Heights, CA and entered the Marine Corps in 1989 through the PLC program at Cal Poly Pomona earning a BS in Civil Engineering. He completed The Basic School in 1990 as his company's "Iron Mike" and was selected to participate on the U.S. military pentathlon team.
In August 1992, he graduated from flight school on the Commodore's List for flight and academic distinction earning his Gold Aviator Wings. Upon designation as a Naval Aviator, he was assigned to MCAS Cherry Point, NC for conversion training to the KC-130 Hercules.
During 1996, he was assigned to 1st ANGLICO in
MCB Camp Pendleton and served as the ANGLICO Detachment Commander with the 13th MEU (SOC). He deployed to WESTPAC aboard the USS Peleliu and served as the LNO to COMCARGRU 7 aboard the USS Nimitz. BGen Uribe participated in Operations SILENT ASSURANCE and SOUTHERN WATCH and supported numerous exercises in support of joint and coalition forces.
In 1999, he returned to VMGR-352 in MCAS Miramar, CA, graduated as a
WTI from MAWTS-1 and served as the Director of Safety and Standardization; Squadron WTI; OpsO; and Group NATOPS Evaluator. He also deployed to Incirlik, Turkey as the KC-130 Detachment Commander for Operation NORTHERN WATCH.
During 2001, BGen Uribe was directed to head the operational evaluation of
the KC-130J in NAS Patuxent River, MD where he served as Director for KC-130 projects with VX-1. He deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, and Iraq supporting IRAQI FREEDOM, completed
the operational evaluation, and was selected as the 2003 COMOPTEVFOR Tester of the Year.
In September 2004 BGen Uribe was assigned to HQMC Aviation Plans & Policies in Washington DC. He deployed as an IA to Al Anbar Province in Iraq as a FAC in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM with the 1st MarDiv and served with numerous Marine, Coalition, Joint, Iraqi, and Special Operations units. Upon completing an 8 month deployment he returned to the Pentagon
at HQMC Aviation during May 2005 and served in the Aviation Requirement's Branch.
Photo credits...
Photos of the Appleton Flag Day Parade are courtesy
of Bill Siebers and Jeff Lindsay
Copyright 2019 Flag Day Parade Committee, Appleton, WI USA