Lawton’s Traditional Armed Forces Day Parade Moved To Army’s Birthday

One of the biggest highlights each year in Lawton, Oklahoma has been the Armed Forces Parade and Celebration, dedicated to all of our country's military. Traditionally, Lawton hosts their parade on the same weekend as Armed Forces Day. This year, however, things have been moved to coincide with the United State's Army's 250th Birthday.

Although the parade was moved to the Army's day of celebration, the theme for the parade will still be focused on all branches of the military, according to the City of Lawton's Communications and Marketing Manager Caitlin Gatlin.

"The theme is to celebrate all branches of the military & pay homage to the different eras of each branch, or whatever branch participants want to focus on," she said. 

Community groups and organizations can sign up for this year's parade.

They are still taking participants for this year's "Service Through The Decades" parade on Saturday, June 14, 2025. The parade will begin at the Central Plaza in downtown Lawton and run through C Avenue, 11th Street and Ferris Avenue. The parade begins at 11 a.m. and line up will start shortly before.

To sign up for the parade, click here.

Other Lawton events to participate in for Armed Forces Day.

Despite the fact that Lawton/Ft. Sill will not have a parade on Armed Forces Day this year, there are an abundance of events to attend on Saturday, May 17 to celebrate the national holiday:

Military Appreciation Day 

KCA Veterans Annual POWWOW

WSPBR Armed Forces Day

For more information for each event, click the links above.