Paducah Committee to Hear Confederate Flag Appeal

A Paducah parade committee will hear an appeal from the Sons of Confederate Veterans after the city commission voted to limit  participation in its Veterans Day parade to those representing the United States.

The Paducah Sun reports that the Veterans Day Parade Committee will hear the appeal for reinstatement on August 8. The Paducah City Commission had approved a resolution on May 16 affirming and accepting the committee's position that participation be limited to those representing the flag of the United States and veterans of the United States Armed Forces.

The Sons of Confederate Veterans has participated in the parade in years past.

Commissioner Sarah Stewart Holland, who supported efforts to limit the Confederate emblems' parade presence, said she plans on attending the meeting, as does local NAACP branch president J.W. Cleary.




Here is the Veterans Day Parade Purpose Resolution from May 16, 2017 City Commission meeting:

The Paducah Board of Commissioners approved a resolution supporting the Veterans Day Committee.  The text of the resolution is as follows:

A Resolution affirming and accepting the position of the Paducah Veterans Day Committee that participants in the Veterans Day Parade be limited to those that represent the flag of the United States and the Veterans of the United States Armed Forces.

WHEREAS, in 1996 then Mayor Albert Jones formed the Paducah Veterans Day Committee for the purpose of recognizing Veterans of the United States Armed Forces; AND

WHEREAS, the Veterans Day Parade has run continuously since then under the direction of the City of Paducah Parks Services Department; AND

WHEREAS, the Veterans Day Committee has on April 20th of 2017 reaffirmed its statement of purpose for the parade to limit participation to only those groups who represent Veterans of the United States Armed Forces under the Flag of the United States.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Board of Commissioners of the City of Paducah to accept and abide by the Resolution of the Veterans Day Committee to limit participation in the Veterans Day Parade to groups or individuals who represent, support and honor Veterans of the United States Armed Forces.

This Resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after its adoption.