Volunteer Opportunities
For many years our Veterans Day Parade has been the largest in the state, partially due to the large number of active duty, retired and veteran military members in the area. However, a parade of this size depends not only on the county and city to organize and operate, but most significantly on donors, participants, sponsors and the efforts of many volunteers!
Volunteers are needed in each of the subcommittee areas. A brief overview of subcommittee functions is on this page. When you see areas that interest you, click on the Volunteer Signup link for that subcommittee below to see the detailed list. For each task on the list, the number of volunteers needed are identified (or it indicates “Full”). To volunteer to help, the dates needed for the task are listed, followed by a clickable arrow (>) that will take you to the signup form.
There are many functions required to organize and conduct the parade, and opportunities for you to help. To manage all of the functions of the parade, the Parade Committee is organized into several Subcommittees, each having responsibility for specific functions. These include:
Subcommittee 1 - Administrative Functions:
The Administrative subcommittee is responsible for obtaining local and state permits, coordinating with the City and County, including public works, police & sheriff departments, insurance, marketing including radio, tv, newspaper, social media, posters & marquis, identifying and inviting VIP guests, providing parade announcer(s), soliciting parade participants, website maintenance, liaison with Military parade participants including bands and units, providing lunches for military participants, overseeing finances for the parade including support from the City and County as well as fund raising - tax-deductible donations from supporters and sponsors, overseeing communications (including Amateur Radio operators) and facilities including port-o-potties.
Volunteer for Subcommittee 1 - Administration
Subcommittee 2 - Reviewing Stand Functions:
The Reviewing Stand subcommittee is responsible for setting up the reviewing stand area including the Morehead City Train Depot, parade Emcee and Sound System setup, VIPs who ride in the parade, including those who drive their own vehicles and those who ride in volunteer vehicles, coordinating VIP parking and transportation to/from staging areas (golf carts), obtaining golf carts (rental), provide VIP, Driver and Car Coordination, including instructions for each, and pickup/meeting locations, signs for VIP cars, Parking Passes for VIPs, Setup of the reviewing area, including chairs, reserved VIP seating and area stands/ropes, ushers, Attendants for VIP Parking, Attendants for Driver Pickup, Signs for golf carts, storage of golf carts overnight and assignment of golf cart drivers, Insurance for golf carts, ensuring carts are open and available early on parade day and returned at end of parade, and reviewing stand pack up duties.
Volunteer for Subcommittee 2 - Reviewing Stand
Subcommittee 3 - Staging and Parade Line Up Functions:
This subcommittee is responsible for setting up the parade staging areas, assigning staging (and parade) positions for participants, staffing the information booth/ tent at Shevan’s Park, maintaining a map of staging positions, placing the numbered Staging Position Stakes in the staging area, handing out numbered participant pie plates to the correct participants, develop Announcer Notes for entries, coordinate traffic cones and street barricades, traffic direction in the staging area, Coordinate arrival of USMC equipment and units - special parking areas for vehicles that are large (too wide, too long, too high), provide breakfast for staging area volunteers, attendants throughout the staging area and wrap up activities.
Volunteer for Subcommittee 3 - Staging and Parade Line Up
Subcommittee 4 - Logistics snd Support Functions:
This subcommittee is responsible for parade banners, banner carriers & placement, Yard Signs and placement, purchase and distribution of American Flags during the parade, passing out staging area notices to residents in the staging area (Please don’t park on the street on parade day morning), assisting with reviewing stand setup, reviewing stand coffee Mess, provide water for reviewing stand and staging area, Provide Troubleshooter(s) for the parade, gather banners, tent, staging and reviewing stand, pie plates and staging marker stakes and return to storage after the parade ends,
Volunteer for Subcommittee 4 - Logistics and Support Functions
Subcommittee 5 - Special Functions and Performances:
This subcommittee is responsible for special functions, fund raising, Special Event planning / coordination, including selected schools, award plaques, and dinner banquet for special guest participants, VIPs and Sponsors, and other tasks as needed.
Veterans Day Parade Volunteer Duties 2025
Parade Planning:
SC Chair will establish meeting dates/times to meet with all subcommittee Chairs for updates. Subcommittee Chairs keep SC Chair appraised of any difficulties or delays encountered between established meeting dates. SC Chair will maintain a master checklist, track progress of all action items through the subcommittee chairs and provide assistance where needed to ensure all action items are completed on time.
Subcommittee Chairs will establish meeting dates/times to meet with their committee members. Communications between subcommittees is encouraged to enhance preparedness.
Day Before Parade:
All subcommittee Chairs ensure all materials/equipment is staged and all stations required will be manned. Report status to SC Chair (voice/text/email).
Day of Parade:
All subcommittee Chairs ensure all assigned personnel are in place and have the materials/equipment required for assigned duties. Prior to departing parade area, ensure assigned area is clean and all material/equipment is returned to assigned area. Inform SC Chair (voice/text/email) that assigned area is clean and material/equipment stowed.
Post Parade (the week(s) following the parade):
All subcommittee Chairs ensure the names of all volunteers and sponsors are submitted to Subcommittee 1.
All Subcommittee Chairs ensure all volunteers and sponsors are presented with the appropriate Letter of Appreciation (LOA) or Plaque.
Steering Committee Chair set date/time for post-parade lessons learned meeting (Hot Washup).