Do you have a veteran hero in your life? KY Veterans Parade wants to hear about them

The 15th annual Kentucky Veterans Parade and Celebration is looking for "Heroes Among Us" to honor at the big 15th anniversary celebration.

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You know that quiet neighbor who never talks much about his time overseas? Or maybe your coworker who always deflects when someone mentions her military service? Well, Kentucky's annual veteran celebration has something special planned for folks just like them.

The Kentucky Veterans Parade & Celebration is turning 15 this year, and organizers want to make it extra meaningful by shining a spotlight on the veterans who live right here in our communities- the ones who might not think they're anything special, but absolutely are.

Your chance to say "thank you"

The organization is seeking 15 "Heroes Among Us" to be recognized during this year's parade on Saturday, November 8th. So who are they choosing? That's up to you! And your nominations.

"This is Kentucky's parade- a way for our communities to say thank you to the men and women who have served," says Wayne Hettinger, who chairs the event. "We're proud to mark 15 years of honoring veterans and hope to engage even more veterans and community members through our Heroes Among Us recognition program."

It doesn't matter if your hero served in Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, or anywhere in between. Maybe they were deployed for months, or maybe they spent years stateside keeping things running. The point is, they served- and that matters.

How do you nominate someone?

It's super easy! Click here, fill out a form and tell the organization about your veteran hero. You have until October 10th to get your nomination in. Something I think is really special... even if your person doesn't get selected as one of the 15, they're still welcome to march in the parade if they want to.

Think about it: when's the last time someone publicly thanked that veteran in your life for their service? This could be their moment.

What does the big day look like?

This year's celebration is moving to NuLu (you know, that cool neighborhood outside of downtown Louisville with all the restaurants and shops), and it's going to run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, November 8th.

The parade itself is pretty amazing- you'll see military vehicles going back to World War II rolling down Market Street, marching bands, and the sacred Blessing of the Colors tradition.

This year's Grand Marshal is Colonel Tim McDonald, who spent 30 years in the Army and now helps train Kentucky's next generation of service members through JROTC. The guy's got some serious credentials- four combat tours, multiple Bronze Stars, and a whole wall of other medals. But more importantly, he's still giving back by teaching young people about service. A perfect representation of celebrating the past 250 years of service and looking ahead to the next 250.

But here's the really fun part: after the parade, families can actually climb on and touch the military vehicles they see in the parade.

It's really about community

What's cool about this whole thing is how the community's getting involved. The small businesses in NuLu will be doing special deals and activities all day to join in on the fun. Family can expect food trucks, family activities, and a true community-based celebration.

These veterans aren't just statistics or history book entries. They're our neighbors, our family members, our friends. They're the people who stepped up when their country needed them, and now they're living quiet lives among us.

Maybe your hero is the guy at church who always volunteers for everything. Maybe she's the teacher down the hall who somehow relates to all the tough kids. Maybe he's the one who never misses his grandson's baseball games. The military shaped who they are, but they're shaping our community right back.

So if you know someone who deserves a moment in the spotlight- and you probably do- don't let this pass by. Head to the nomination page, tell their story, and help Louisville say thank you the right way.

Because honestly? Our heroes have been walking among us all along. It's about time we noticed.

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