Final preparations continued for this week ‘s , McAlester ‘s , annual , Armed Forces Day , celebration.
” All lining up”, said , Armed Forces Day , Committee Chairman , Jeff Wolf.
Actions over the two- evening event include the AFD Luncheon on , Friday, May 3, followed by the city festival, which is set to have some flyovers, on , Saturday, May 4.
Activities kick- off with the , Armed Forces Day , Luncheon set for , 11: 30 a. m. on Friday, with windows opening at , 11 a. m.  , It will be held at a unique site this time, inside the , Aldridge Ballroom , at , 200 E. Carl Albert Parkway.
U. S. Air Force , Chief , Master Sergeant Christopher B. Williams  , will deliver the featured presentation to a full house.
” The dinner is sold out”, Wolf said Tuesday.
Included in the dinner ideas is a nod to the Lost Man stand by , McAlester , Mayor , John Browne.
Plans call for the AFD Luncheon to be followed the next day by the , Armed Forces Day , Parade, set to begin at , 10 a. m.  , on , Saturday, May 4, in downtown , McAlester.
” Fight Fly Win” is the theme for this year ‘s , Armed Forces Day , activities in , McAlester, with the , U. S. Air Force , the branch of military service being honored.
Wolf noted that the parade will include a full parade as well as flyovers. Aircraft involved include Warbirds and two F- 16s, which are set for a flyover at approximately , 10: 30 a. m.
Also this year, local pilot , David Verner , will lead a post- parade flyover by several aircraft, Wolf said.
There is still time to register those who have n’t yet created a float or who would like to participate in some other way.
The parade lineup will start at S. A. Street, according to Wolf, and attendees will simply show up and go there.
The parade will embark from A Street and head down , Carl Albert Parkway , to , Fifth Street. It will then continue south for a block, then head west along , Choctaw Avenue , to , S. Main Street.
This year the reviewing stand will be the new downtown pavilion/outdoor stage at the intersection of , First Street , and , Choctaw Avenue.
No entry fees are planned for those who want to take part in the parade, and no prizes have been set aside for the best floats or parade entries.
Wolf stated that the idea is to allow everyone to attend and have fun.
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