Enid celebrates history, base marches in parade

Published Sept. 11, 2013

VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- More than 80 Team Vance members in battle uniforms and flights suits will join the marching units in the 2013 Cherokee Strip parade in downtown Enid, Saturday, Sept. 14, beginning at 10:30 a.m.

This year's parade marshal is Col. Darren James, the 71st Flying Training Wing commander.

The parade is part of three days of celebrating Enid's heritage, to include the land run of 1893.

During the land run, more than 100,000 people used horses, wagons, trains and feet while racing to claim plots of land in the northern Oklahoma Territory, known as the Cherokee Strip.

The parade will include children and adults riding all kinds of bicycles and tricycles along with the floats, marching units and the Airmen from Vance Air Force Base.

The Airmen will come from units across the base and will march in two separate units, representing permanent party and the student pilot squadron.

For more information on the 2013 Cherokee Strip Celebration, Sept. 13-15, visit the Enid chamber of Commerce website: http://www.enidchamber.com/community-calendar/annual-events-programs/cherokee-strip-celebration.