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
Originally scheduled to meet at the Senior Center Thursday evening, the 'indefinite' closing of that structure due to frozen pipes and water damage, caused a relocation to the VFW on Pond Street.
The 1.5 mile parade route, the same used in prior years, was the starting point for the discussion, but many other things required input from the dozen or so participants, including how to ensure flow and safety with multiple military and scout groups marching and multiple vehicles bearing older veterans or veterans unable to walk the distance.
Franklin Fire Department will be working to provide a 'color guard' and two or three department vehicles as well as an ambulance standing by at the common.
Franklin Police will provide the traffic details and perhaps a color guard.
Work is still being done to ensure enough vehicles to transport veterans along the parade route and coordination is being worked out with assisted living facilities to bring interested veterans to a staging area.
Other news shared by Shannon Nesbit, Veterans Services Officer, and others included:
* The March Veterans Coffee may be getting moved to the VFW -- watch for confirmation
* The April 5 Social, will include recognition of the tremendous support provided by the local Starbucks
* A new mental health program is available for Veterans
* Volunteers have mapped the burial locations of about 380 veterans in the St. Mary's cemetery.
* The Quilts of Valor program has identified about a dozen Korean War-era veterans and will be distributing the quilts in July