The Miami Lakes Veterans Committee has chosen U.S. Army veteran Makissa Lewis as grand marshal for the 44th Annual Veterans Parade.
“I feel so honored,” Lewis, 44, of Port St. Lucie said about leading the parade on Sunday, Nov. 5. “I feel like I’ll be able to represent to the veterans population that you can overcome your disability.”
Lewis enlisted in the army and served from 1996 – 2007 in Germany; Fort Riley, Kansas; South Korea and did a combat tour in Iraq.
Among her military awards are the Army Commendation medal; Combat Action badge; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service medals and Iraq Campaign medal with a Campaign Star, her record shows. She retired as a Private first class.
Lewis founded My Seester, Inc., a nonprofit that supports female veterans. She has ties to Miami-Dade County, and earned a graduate degree in higher education at Florida International University.
The parade is at 10 a.m. on Nov. 5, and starts at Northwest 67th Avenue and Bull Run Road. It ends two hours later at Town Hall on Main Street.
The march will feature veterans, active military members; school marching bands; elected officials and first responders.
Also set to appear are Storm Troopers and Darth Vader characters from “Star Wars” movies.