CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Veterans will be going back this morning to the place they walked years ago, when the day dedicated to them each year was called Armistice Day.

But it took some friendly arm-twisting to persuade city officials to switch routes for the annual Veterans Day Parade, said Ed Converse, organizer of this year's parade.

Converse, past commander of American Legion Post 20, said the post has hosted parades for 55 to 60 years. "It's one of the longest continuous running parades in the country."

On a recent night at the post home on Dickinson Street, Converse was among a group who were looking at photos of old parades. "The parade was stretched all along Capitol Street," he said. "Just looking at history, the original route was starting up Capitol."

In recent years, though, veterans have gathered near the Civic Center and marched down Virginia Street. "We didn't run into crowds of people until we got near downtown."

So Converse proposed a change. "The city didn't like that too well."

Perhaps they were tired of hearing complaints of closing Kanawha Boulevard. But city officials eventually agreed, and today the parade will begin at 10 a.m. on the Boulevard beside Haddad Riverfront Park and follow a circular route up to Capitol Street, north to Quarrier Street, west to Court Street, south to the Boulevard and back to Haddad Park.

There, with a row of American flags as a backdrop, retired U.S. Navy Capt. Phillip Wright will lead a brief ceremony at 11 a.m. Wright is now chief of the criminal division for the U.S. Attorney's Office for Southern West Virginia.

Parade-goers will see more than 50 units, Converse said - scouting groups of all types; assorted politicians; the Capital High School, Stonewall Jackson and East Bank Middle School, and Charleston Metro bands; antique military vehicles; floats; the Earl of Elkview; and, of course, dozens of military and veterans groups.

The parade also includes a miniature version of the C-130 cargo planes that are based at Yeager Airport. A flyover of the real thing by the 130th Airlift Wing is scheduled later during the program.

Reach Jim Balow at ba...@wvgazette.com or 348-5102.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Veterans will be going back this morning to the place they walked years ago, when the day dedicated to them each year was called Armistice Day.

But it took some friendly arm-twisting to persuade city officials to switch routes for the annual Veterans Day Parade, said Ed Converse, organizer of this year's parade.

Converse, past commander of American Legion Post 20, said the post has hosted parades for 55 to 60 years. "It's one of the longest continuous running parades in the country."

On a recent night at the post home on Dickinson Street, Converse was among a group who were looking at photos of old parades. "The parade was stretched all along Capitol Street," he said. "Just looking at history, the original route was starting up Capitol."

In recent years, though, veterans have gathered near the Civic Center and marched down Virginia Street. "We didn't run into crowds of people until we got near downtown."

So Converse proposed a change. "The city didn't like that too well."

Perhaps they were tired of hearing complaints of closing Kanawha Boulevard. But city officials eventually agreed, and today the parade will begin at 10 a.m. on the Boulevard beside Haddad Riverfront Park and follow a circular route up to Capitol Street, north to Quarrier Street, west to Court Street, south to the Boulevard and back to Haddad Park.

There, with a row of American flags as a backdrop, retired U.S. Navy Capt. Phillip Wright will lead a brief ceremony at 11 a.m. Wright is now chief of the criminal division for the U.S. Attorney's Office for Southern West Virginia.

Parade-goers will see more than 50 units, Converse said - scouting groups of all types; assorted politicians; the Capital High School, Stonewall Jackson and East Bank Middle School, and Charleston Metro bands; antique military vehicles; floats; the Earl of Elkview; and, of course, dozens of military and veterans groups.

The parade also includes a miniature version of the C-130 cargo planes that are based at Yeager Airport. A flyover of the real thing by the 130th Airlift Wing is scheduled later during the program.

Reach Jim Balow at ba...@wvgazette.com or 348-5102.

Want to go?

Parade street closings

The following streets will be closed during the Veterans Day Parade today:

Kanawha Boulevard: from 9 a.m. to noon, between Capitol and Court streets.

Kanawha Boulevard: at 9:50 a.m., westbound at Hale Street. All westbound traffic will be directed to go north on Hale Street.

Quarrier Street, westbound: at Dickinson Street by 10 a.m. All westbound traffic to go north or south on Dickinson Street.

Quarrier Street, westbound: at Hale Street by 10:05 a.m.

Virginia Street: by 10:10 a.m., at Goshorn Street. All Virginia Street traffic to go north or south on Goshorn Street.

The parade route will be as follows:

Stage on Kanawha Boulevard between Court and Capitol streets. At 10 a.m., the parade will proceed east on Kanawha Boulevard to Capitol Street, north on Capitol Street to Quarrier Street, west on Quarrier Street to Court Street, south on Court Street and back to the Kanawha Boulevard where the parade will disband.