09/30/2025
We opened the 76th Annual Pancake Day just like we do every year—with the raising of the flag on the Courthouse lawn and the singing of our National Anthem. This tradition is one we hold dear, which is why we want to take a moment to address questions about the color guard in this year’s parade.
At PACT, we would never plan Pancake Day without a color guard. Presenting the colors at the start of our Big Parade is a time-honored tradition and a meaningful reminder of the great country we live in.
For the 76th Annual Pancake Day, our local Veterans were invited—just as they are every year—to provide the color guard. Shortly before parade step-off, we were informed they did not have enough participants to safely and properly field a color guard. With less than 15 minutes before the parade began, we were unable to secure a qualified alternative that would meet proper flag etiquette. We share this not to place blame, but to clarify why the colors were not presented this year and to recognize the real-time constraints that made quick substitutions impossible.
We are grateful to our Veterans and remain deeply committed to honoring them and our nation on Pancake Day.
For the 77th Annual Pancake Day, we will proudly lead the parade with Appanoose County Veterans, and we also welcome any visiting color guards who would like to join us in this celebration. If you are a veteran in Appanoose County and would like to be contacted for opportunities like this or funeral honors, please reach out to Annette Harvey, Ron Burger or Ryan Stober.
