Town resident Gary E. Cardenas, Commander of American Legion Post 144-Miami Lakes, has been named the Grand Marshal for the 36th annual Miami Lakes Veterans’ Day Parade which steps off at 10 a.m. on Sunday, November 8.
Cardenas volunteered for service in the U.S. Army in 1964. He served in various capacities while in Germany and at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, namely as Training and Operations NCO, Forward Air Controller, and Public Information Officer. He was awarded the Army Commendation Medal in May 1966.
After Cardenas’ honorable discharge from the Army, he embarked on a banking career in Trust Operations that spanned 37 years and covered three local banks. He retired as vice president of Northern Trust Bank of Florida.
Cardenas is a Life Member of the Vietnam Veterans of America, the Cuban American Veterans Association, and Miami Lakes Veterans Committee.
This year’s parade is sponsored by The Graham Companies and Miami Lakes AutoMall and presented by the Town’s Veterans and Cultural Affairs committees.
It will follow the same route that was introduced last year beginning at the corner of Bull Run and Ludlam Roads (N.W. 67 Avenue), heading south on Ludlam Road. The public grandstand location will be at Main Street and Ludlam Road.
Parade participants will then proceed to Eagle Nest Road and arrive at Miami Lakes Government Center for dispersal and the Veterans’ Day ceremonies.
The Town will close Ludlam Road between Miami Lakeway North and Miami Lakes Drive from 6:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. for the parade. The alternate route for through traffic on Ludlam Road will run through Miami Lakeway North for northbound and southbound traffic.
For more information, visit www.miamilakes-fl.gov/parade, or contact Clarisell De Cardenas at decardenasc@miamilakes-fl.gov, or by phone at 305-364-6100.