Parade of Cadets to be the Show of Shows

The U.S. Army Cadet Corps is conducting the Parade of Cadets through downtown Millersburg on April 25th beginning at 9:30 am.  

The Parade of Cadets is part of the Centennial Gala Celebration for the United States Army Cadet Corps.  The event will take place in downtown Millersburg Kentucky on Saturday 25 April 2009.

This parade was originally intended to consist of military Cadet organizations from all of the services and was to honor the history of military Cadetting as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Army Cadets. 

Very early in the process this parade took on a life of its own as an outpouring of community interest guided the direction of parade planning.  Quickly it evolved into a celebration of our military heritage in addition to a way of honoring those that serve and protect us daily in law enforcement and the fire service.  Now over 30 groups from across the state and as far away as North Carolina will converge on this historic community will participate in an event that restores the century old military identity of Millersburg and Bourbon County.

More than 30 units, ranging from marching banks to antique tractors will march in celebration of the 113 year history of Millersburg Military Institute, the 100 year history of the U.S. Army Cadet Corps (USAC), and the Activation Ceremony for the National Cadet Training Center on the historic MMI campus.   Civil organizations – military and civilian – can still register for the “Parade of Cadets.”  This is expected to be the largest parade in the history of Millersburg.

Organizations and individuals wishing to participate in theparade are asked to go to the Centennial Gala Celebration website to register.  There you will find a link on the left hand side of the pageentitled, "Parade Entry Form."  Go to that link and fill in the appropriate information.

The parade will start at exactly 0930 from the west end of Millersburg (Paris side of town).  Sign-in for parade participants will be near the corner of U.S. 68 and Old Millersburg Road.  From there, parade marshals will line units up along Old Millersburg Road to await start time.  Due to the large number of participants, you are asked to sign-in between 0800 and 0830.

The parade will proceed down Main Street and will end on the grounds of the United States Army Cadet Corps National Headquarters and National Cadet Training Center (previously Millersburg Military Institute).  The parade route is just under 1 mile in length.

All parade participants and the general public are invited to the NCTC Activation Ceremony which will follow immediately after the parade.  Parade units may proceed directly from the parade route onto the NCTCto await the ceremony and open house to follow. 

If you are driving a float, large vehicle, tracked vehicle or tractors,please do not take these vehicles onto the NCTC.  You can either depart the event at that point or proceed down Main Street/U.S. 68 to the old Layson Farm located 0.56 miles past the Army Cadet facility on the left just before the county line.  There, you can park your heavy vehicles and return to the activation ceremony and open house.The parade will end at the National Cadet Training Center, followed by the colorful Activation Ceremony which will be the formal opening of the NCTC.  The National Anthem will be played on site for the first time in nearly three years, with the American Flag scheduled to be brought in by a parachutist.  A helicopter fly-by is also planned.

MillersburgPride, a community-based organization, is hosting a variety of food booths, arts displays and information stands for civic organizations.   This will occur at the Millersburg Civic Center, across the street from the National Cadet Training Center.   USAC has also arranged for the display of an Army Humvee and a rock-climbing wall.

The Project Officer for the Parade of Cadets is Lt. Col Mike Cooper, USAFR.