Month: November 2025

Patrick Holleron

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — From North 22nd Street and Frederick Avenue all the way to City Hall, supporters lined the streets Tuesday in honor of those who dedicated their life to the armed forces.

The 2025 Veterans Day Parade took place Tuesday morning with residents and patriots alike showing out in support for the annual holiday event.

Led proudly by local units from JROTC, the parade kicked off at North 22nd Street before heading down Frederick with a wide-range of organizations, veterans and servicemembers in tow, all with the patriotic sounds of local bands from Central, Benton and Lafayette High Schools.

“It was important to show support for all their loyalty and service that they’ve put in for our country,” said St. Joseph resident Richard Swadluy, who attended the parade. “My brother Scott was in the Navy and it’s great to see people support people like him who served. It brings everybody together. We’re a big family anyway.”

Featured in the parade were VFW units with the American Legion and Marine Corps League, one of multiple branches represented, along with local organizations like the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution, among many others.

Swadluy is one of many residents who came to show support and recognition to all veterans.

According to data from the U.S. Census and Pew Research Center, there are roughly 14 million veterans living in the United States currently, with an estimated 4,100 in the greater St. Joseph area alone.

Jess Chrisman and her two children Lyliana and Wyatt were in attendance to honor their family members. Chrisman served eight years in the military and knows firsthand what people have gone through and how meaningful it is to show appreciation for those individuals.

“Everybody’s got a war story of some kind,” Chrisman said. “And sometimes it’s just nice to hear what they went through because it was a choice that they made. Having people come out brings a lot to the community. It shows the depths because you never know what someone has gone through.”

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Leah Rainwater

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — The AFL-CIO Community Services is seeking volunteers for opportunities to help with its Adopt-A-Family program.

Those interested in volunteering are encouraged to call 816-364-1131, email ashley.luthans@helpmenow.org or utilize the agency’s new online volunteer system by visiting afl-ciocommunityservices.ivolunteer.com/adoptafamily.

Around 15 volunteers are needed from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 15, to help shop for disabled/nursing home adoptees who did not get adopted by someone in the community.

The agency will have someone lined up at the North Belt Walmart to direct shoppers. The AFL-CIO said this volunteer opportunity is for those who like to shop but don’t want to spend their own money.

Another volunteer opportunity will take place from 1 to 5 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 15 and Tuesday, Dec. 16. The agency will need around 15 volunteers, ages 16 years or older, each day, to help organize its Gift Room.

The process will involve sorting and organizing gift donations, so those who were not chosen to be adopted by someone in the community can shop for gifts for their family.

Volunteers are also needed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 17, through Wednesday, Dec. 24, to staff the Gift Room while it’s open for shopping. The agency said it needs six volunteers per hour, each day.

Working in the Gift Room will include checking families in and out, working with the families to help them pick out appropriate gifts for their family members, restocking as more donations arrive and a little “dab” of paperwork.

The agency said the Gift Room gets hectic at times and requires at least three workers per hour to keep the room under control. Volunteers may be required to move up and down, lift items and work on their feet.

Volunteers will also need to be flexible, as details change fairly often with the program, and be able to keep information about Gift Room visitors confidential. The opportunity is limited to adults only.

From 1 to 5 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 18 and Friday, Dec. 19, eight volunteers will be needed per day to deliver gifts to shut-ins.

The agency said volunteers can deliver as few or as many deliveries as their time allows. Volunteers will also need their own vehicle.

Volunteers will also be needed from Wednesday, Dec. 17, through Tuesday, Dec. 23, to hang around the AFL-CIO building during the Adopt-A-Family program to take pictures around the agency.

Those interested are welcome to bring a professional camera or cellphone, and no professional photography experience is needed to qualify for this opportunity.

The AFL-CIO is asking for candid shots of the “happenings” surrounding the program. If volunteers aren’t busy taking photos, the agency said there are other tasks it may need help with.

Finally, the agency is looking for a few people who are willing to be “on call” during the length of the program. This is in case a volunteer cancels last minute.

“We hate to schedule too many volunteers and have them standing around with nothing to do, but we also need to be covered,” said agency officials in a press release.

If someone is willing and able to be “on call” for the listed dates and times, email ashley.luthans@helpmenow.org or call 816-364-1131.

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TaMya Bracy

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — Local organizations and community members witnessed the Joint Veterans Committee of Greater St. Joseph’s annual Veterans Day Parade Tuesday morning.

The parade started at 9:30 a.m. and made its way down Frederick Avenue, ending at City Hall.

JROTC units and school bands from Benton, Central and Lafayette high schools played a big part while marching in the parade.

The North and South VFW units from the American Legion, the Marine Corps League, the Corvette Club, the Northwest Missouri Street Rods, along with other veterans and law enforcement, were in attendance.

Paul Gatewood, chairman of the Joint Veterans Committee, served in the United States Marine Corps from 1986 until 1990.

Gatewood said it’s important to celebrate Veterans Day to recognize all those who served the country.

“Those people did so much with so little to sacrifice their time and sometimes lives to allow us to have the freedom, freedom of speech, freedom to, you know, roam around just everything they’ve done for us,” he said. “Then the newer generation is doing the same thing. They’re upholding it.”

Gatewood said his favorite part is seeing children participate in the parade.

“Those are potential future members of the armed forces. So we really like to come out and support them. So although they’re supporting us, we’re supporting them right back,” he said.

Gatewood said, to him, Veterans Day is a chance to thank other veterans around him.

“You know, whatever I can do, if I can help them, or just a simple thank you for serving. That’s what Veterans Day means to me,” he said.

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