Beaufort County Veterans Affairs is proud to announce USMC veteran Joan Petrucci as the 2023 Veterans Day Parade Grand Marshal.

Mrs. Joan Petrucci has lived and worked in Beaufort County as an active-duty Marine, Municipal and County employee, adjunct professor for the Technical College of the Lowcountry and the University of South Carolina, and as a 20-year employee of a general contractor and construction management firm, Strecansky & Company. 

She is a 2003 graduate of Leadership Beaufort and currently serves as President of the Parris Island Heritage Foundation. She states that she is firm in the belief that her continued success will always have its roots in the United States Marine Corps.

"As veterans, we all took the oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. We have willingly stepped forward to our Nation’s call to duty and protected the unalienable rights of every American to always pursue life, liberty and happiness," said Grand Marshal Petrucci. "Let us take time to honor those who unselfishly gave of themselves so that the children you see around you will never have to live without a sense of pride for their country, their faith and their family.  On this eleventh day of the eleventh month, I salute all veterans and I humbly offer thanks of the deepest measure."

Female veterans are the fastest growing segment of our veteran base. They have served with spirit and pride, unyielding to the history of the days gone by only to adapt, overcome, and succeed beside our brethren in uniform. Female veterans across this nation are stepping forward in local communities, at state levels, and in the national arena to provide the leadership necessary to move our country forward, together.  

As neighbors in Beaufort County this Veterans Day, we ask that you stand and honor all those that have served, are currently serving, and will continue to serve our country, and offer them kind words and respect.

The 2023 Beaufort County Veterans Day Parade will be held Saturday, November 11 at 10 a.m. It will begin at Beaufort National Cemetery. In case of inclement weather the parade will be canceled.

Every community group, children’s group, civic organization, and community member is encouraged to show their community spirit and our veterans how much they are appreciated.

Visit www.beaufortcountysc.gov/veterans-affairs to download the application.

Before Veterans Day but also in honor of our veterans, plan on stopping by the Wreaths Across America Mobile Education Exhibit Sunday, Monday, November 6 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.  The exhibit will be at the Beaufort Town Center, 2127 Ribaut Road, Beaufort.