101-Year-Old WWII Veteran Is Woodstock's July 4 Parade Grand Marshal

WWII veteran Russell Vaudrey , 101, will be honored by the city of Woodstock as the grand marshal in the July 4th Spectacular Parade.

The parade starts at 10 a.m. July 4 in downtown Woodstock.

Vaudrey, who has been a resident of Woodstock for 35 years, will celebrate his 102nd birthday July 10.

Vaudrey served in the United States Army from 1942 to 1945 during World War II, and earned the rank of Master Sergeant in the Army Air Corps. Vaudrey served as a flight engineer on the B-24 Liberator in the Pacific theater, especially around the Philippines. At one point, his plane was shot down, and he spent three weeks hiding on Panay Island awaiting rescue.

He is a member of the Woodstock Masonic Lodge and the Cherokee County American Legion.

“Russell’s life serves as a model example of citizenship and inspiration to the people of Woodstock," Woodstock Mayor Michael Caldwell said.

As grand marshal, Vaudrey will be driven down the parade route traveling from Woodstock Elementary School on Rope Mill Road south to Main Street and through downtown Woodstock to the parade’s end near Highway 92 at Sam’s Club.

Rope Mill Road and Main Street will close at 9:45 a.m. July 4 for the parade and will reopen at 11:30 a.m. After the parade, there will be a festival in the Park at City Center, 101 Arnold Mill Road, until 3 p.m. At dusk, the city will have a fireworks display in the area of Highway 92 and Interstate 575.

For more information, including a map of parade road blocks and a fireworks traffic plan, visit woodstockga.gov/4th.