One 87-year-old World War II veteran plans to march in Myrtle Beach during Memorial Day weekend regardless of a date change made by the city.
For the first time in nearly a decade, the city of Myrtle Beach rescheduled its annual Memorial Day parade and picnic for one week earlier.
One of the reasons is the local Vietnam Veterans Chapter has approached the city requesting the parade and picnic be held the weekend before honoring the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War.
Another reason is the city feels they do not have the proper resources to handle both the Memorial Day Weekend festivities as well as Bikefest.
However, 87-year-old Navy World War II veteran, Jack Platt, says the city’s change disrespects veterans everywhere.
“Memorial Day is very precious to me,” he said.
Platt says every single man in his family fought in a war and for years, he has honored veterans by walking in the parade on Memorial Day weekend in Myrtle Beach.
“I was upset because for some reason, and I still don’t understand their reasoning, they decided to take Memorial Day away from us,” said Platt.
Platt says he respects Vietnam Veterans, maybe more so than any others for the war they fought in, however Memorial Day is intended to honor all veterans not just the ones from the Vietnam War.
He says changing the date of the Memorial Day festivities affects not only the thousands of veterans in the area, but the tens of thousands who come down each year for the weekend; including the ones that ride motorcycles into town.
“We have a problem with crowd control; handle it. Do the best you can during Memorial Day Weekend for the next few days. Get it done,” said Platt.
Myrtle City officials say they are exhausting all their resources towards handling Bikefest.
“We are making a concerted 100 percent effort this year to address the issues to the Atlantic Beach Memorial Day Bikefest. Everyone will be involved to make sure that we have a safe event,” said City Spokesperson, Mark Kruea.
In a letter addressing the date change, Kruea says the city plans to return the parade and picnic to its normal date in 2016.
Kruea says this year there was not enough time to plan for both events.
Platt says it makes no sense to only change the event for one year, and he and several other veterans do not plan to break tradition come Memorial Day weekend.
“I probably will be able to walk very slowly, but I intend to do it and I’ll carry the flag in memory of all the veterans of all the wars. I will walk,” he said.
Kruea said the actual Memorial Day festivities are still planned for the Monday of Memorial Day Weekend.
He says anyone is welcome to walk around downtown Myrtle Beach.
However, an actual parade that affects traffic flow would need a permit; something he says is not likely during the already busy weekend.