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Grand marshal on top of Veterans Day parade
Published November 11, 2009
SWEENY — Even a commanding officer couldn’t stop Leroy Walker from fighting for our freedom.
Awaiting transport to America after shrapnel ripped open his scalp in October 1944, Walker defied orders to stay in the hospital when German troops began firing bombs at soldiers.
“He told his captain that if he saw anyone from his unit, he was going back,” Walker’s wife, Sue, said with a laugh. “His captain said he couldn’t because he couldn’t wear his helmet, but he said he’ll put it on the side of his head and left and rejoined his unit.”
Leroy Walker, 86, will be the grand marshal of the annual countywide Veterans Day parade in Sweeny, which is set to begin 11 a.m. today at FM 524 and Ashley Wilson Road and wind to Bulldog Stadium. Sue Walker, who spoke on her husband’s behalf because he has trouble hearing, said it is a great honor for the Purple Heart recipient.
“He plans to enjoy the day,” she said.
Levi Swinford, a U.S. Marine who died in 1967, is an honorary grand marshal.
Sweeny has put together a full day of festivities for Veterans Day, which begin at 7 a.m. with the Veterans breakfast and conclude with a ceremony, Sweeny Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Sue Anne Netherly said. It is the West of the Brazos city’s first time to host the event, which moves to a different city in the county each year.
Leroy Walker is Netherly’s father, though that did not play a role in the decision to name him grand marshal, city officials said.
Leroy Walker was in the military March 12, 1943, until Jan. 22, 1946, and served in the Battle of the Bulge, Sue Walker said. He was in Germany for about 18 months, including nine months of combat.
Leroy and Sue Walker married on March 22, 1946, and moved to Sweeny in 1948, Sue Walker said. He worked at the Freeport Sulfur Co. for many years after finishing his military service.
Netherly did not know much about her father’s military exploits growing up, saying he was more known as a loving father to three children than a war hero.
“He’s been a hero to us, but I never considered him any differently than any other person that served in the military,” Netherly said. “He was just my Daddy, and I did not have a clue what all he saw and survived and experienced until last December.”
But being grand marshal is wonderful, she said.
“It’s humbling,” Netherly said.
The parade will begin at FM 524 and Ashley Wilson, going south until it reaches FM 1459, where it will turn left and go two blocks, making another left on Elm Street, Netherly said. It will continue down Elm Street to Frisky Lane, between the football field and junior high.
FM 524, Second and Elm streets will be closed from 10:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in preparation for the parade, a Sweeny police spokesman said. Additionally, FM 524 at Highway 35 and FM 1459 at Highway 35 will close to through traffic from 9a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to ensure the safety of both the staging area and parade route.
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