Bowling Green’s Veterans Day Parade is returning Saturday for its 25th year.

The parade, which starts at 10 a.m., begins and ends near Circus Square Park.

It will travel up College Street, turn left onto 10th Avenue, then left onto State Street and will end at Sixth Avenue and State Street. A flag-raising ceremony will follow at the courthouse.

“This is the 25th anniversary of the Veterans Parade in our community and we hope many citizens line the streets to honor our veterans, active-duty military personnel and all our families,” said Don Butler, chairman of the Veterans and Military Support Council. “The flag-raising ceremony is likewise a nice tribute to our veterans and active duty service men and women.”

There are 75 entries this year, including local JROTC programs and floats of various kinds. Several elected officials will also participate.

“It’s just one of the many ways that we can take the time and honor current military personnel and those who have served,” Butler said. “It’s a way to recognize their devotion to duty and service to our country and a way to recognize their families.”

This year’s grand marshal, Dr. Jerry W. Martin, was selected by the Veterans and Military Support Council for his service as a surgeon at the 18th Surgical Hospital in Central Highlands, Pleiku South Vietnam, from June 1966 to June 1967.

He began his practice in Bowling Green, and after a year and a half, was drafted into the Army, commissioned as a captain in the Army Medical Corps on Jan. 15, 1966.

His book, “Soldiers Saving Soldiers,” was selected as this year’s parade theme.

The book presents the day-to-day life of a field surgeon and the lives of doctors, nurses and other personnel assigned to the hospital.

“We are especially honored to present Dr. Martin as grand marshal,” Butler said. “His book is an up-close and firsthand story about the Vietnam War and the servicemen and women who fought, who were saved, were wounded in combat … and the many lives lost – 57,000 plus – and many who suffered various ‘wounds’ – physical and mental scars.”

This is the 70th anniversary of Veterans Day, which is observed on Nov. 11.

“It wasn’t always called that, however,” Butler said. “After World War I, it was known as Armistice Day to honor the veterans of that war.”

Then, in 1954 after World War II, Congress passed a bill that would change Armistice Day to Veterans Day, recognizing veterans of all wars.

“Veterans Day means a lot to so many and has meant a lot over the years,” Butler said. “And it’s appropriate to take the time and say ‘thank you’ and recognize veterans in various ways and the parade is one way to do just that.”