Folsom residents will honor the nation's veterans at the 22nd annual Wayne Spence Folsom Veterans Day Parade starting at 9 a.m. Friday, November 11. The parade stages in the Target/Home Goods parking lot and begins on East Bidwell Street near Montrose Drive. The parade will travel westbound on E. Bidwell Street, northbound on Coloma Street, and will proceed to Natoma Street. The event ends at Folsom City Lions Park with a brief ceremony to honor local veterans at the Veterans Memorial.

The Folsom Police Department will coordinate a temporary closure of all lanes of traffic on East Bidwell Street from approximately 8 to 11 a.m. Natoma Street from Coloma to Wales Drive will close from approximately 9:15 to 11:15 a.m. Closures will be lifted immediately after the parade ends. Detours around the parade will be marked; motorists are encouraged to take Riley and School streets as alternate routes.

This year’s parade lineup includes more than 2,000 participants with marching bands, floats, classic cars, horseback riders, color guards, and a variety of community groups. The parade is held rain or shine; for more information call 916-461-6615 or email tocampo@folsom.ca.us.

You may have noticed some special street signs decorated with a gold star and the words "Fallen Veteran" when traveling around Folsom. These beautiful, hand-made Gold Star street signs honor Folsom veterans who died in combat. The 76 signs located throughout our community identify city streets named for Folsom veterans. There's also a stone monument at Folsom Public Library etched with the names of some of our fallen heroes.