Four distinguished local veterans will serve as marshals for the annual Veterans Recognition Parade in downtown Hastings on March 16, 2024. The parade will honor U.S. Air Force veteran Don Smith, U.S. Army veteran Frank Smedra, U.S. Marine Corps veteran Valerie Siebrass, and U.S. Navy veteran Beau Huffman. The event aims to recognize the contributions of military personnel and foster community spirit.
Registration for the parade will take place from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the Hastings Masonic Temple, located at 411 N. Hastings Ave.. The parade is scheduled to commence at 10 a.m. All U.S. military veterans are encouraged to participate, either by walking or riding in the procession. Local businesses and individuals can show their support by entering parade floats or groups. Notably, political campaigns are prohibited from participating or sponsoring the event. The Hastings Area Chamber of Commerce and the Veterans Committee are organizing the parade.
The selected grand marshals were honored during a special dinner held at the Masonic Center on March 13, 2024. This event was sponsored by Livingston-Butler-Volland Funeral Home, highlighting the community’s commitment to recognizing its veterans.
Don Smith enlisted in the U.S. Air Force at just 17 years old, shortly after graduating high school in Shelton. His military journey began with basic training in 1956 at Parks Air Force Base in California. After completing his training in various supply roles, he was stationed at Ashiya Air Base in Japan for two years. Smith returned to the United States in 1958, serving at Lincoln Air Force Base for four years before a transfer to Greece. He concluded his service at Hill Air Force Base in Utah in 1965, holding the rank of airman first class. Beyond his military career, Smith has been active in local governance, serving on the Hastings City Council from 1984 to 1988 and as a chairman of the Community Redevelopment Authority. He resides in Hastings with his wife, Stella, and they have four children.
Another honoree, Valerie Siebrass, graduated from Hastings High School in 1984 and joined the U.S. Marine Corps immediately after. She completed her basic training at Parris Island, North Carolina, and was later selected for the Marine Corps Band due to her musical talents. Siebrass was stationed in Norfolk, Virginia, and Camp Pendleton, California, where she participated in numerous significant events, including the Rose Bowl parades in 1985 and 1987. Her military service included a call-up during Operation Desert Storm. Siebrass served a total of four years active and four years inactive, leaving the Marine Corps in 1992 with the rank of lance corporal. She and her husband, Mark, have two children.
Frank Smedra enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1966 after graduating from Loup City High School. Following basic training at Fort Lynwood, Missouri, and advanced training at Fort Polk, Louisiana, Smedra was deployed to Vietnam in October 1966 with the 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment. His service was marked by bravery, as he was wounded in action and spent two months recovering in Japan. He received numerous accolades, including the Vietnam Service Medal with Bronze Service Star and a Purple Heart, before his honorable discharge in 1968 as a sergeant. Smedra and his wife, Elizabeth, have three children.
Finally, Beau Huffman joined the U.S. Navy in 1997, completing boot camp at Great Lakes before training in avionics and mechanics in Pensacola, Florida. He served with Strike Fighter Squadron 151 at Lemoore Naval Air Station, participating in deployments to the West Pacific Ocean, including operations aboard the USS Constellation enforcing no-fly zones in the Persian Gulf. Huffman was honorably discharged in 2001 with the rank of petty officer second class. He currently owns and operates 1 Great Nutrition and lives in Hastings with his wife, Brook, and their three children.
The Veterans Recognition Parade is a significant event for the Hastings community, providing an opportunity to honor local heroes and promote unity.
