Council Bluffs Names Two Veterans Day Grand Marshals
Retired Marine Corps sergeant Patty Holeton and retired Air Force airman Ernest Techau will lead the downtown parade on Saturday.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Military
Council Bluffs has named Patty Holeton and Ernest Techau as grand marshals of its annual Veterans Day parade, which begins at 11 a.m. Saturday in downtown Council Bluffs. Holeton is a retired Marine Corps sergeant, and Techau is a retired U.S. Air Force airman.
Why it matters
The selection honors two local veterans whose service spans several decades and branches of the armed forces. It gives the community a visible way to recognize veterans as the holiday approaches.
Holeton served in the Marine Corps from 1984 to 1991, while Techau served in the Air Force from 1954 to 1957. The parade starts at 11 a.m. Saturday, and the source does not give expected attendance or the full route.
The players
Patty Holeton
Holeton is a retired Marine Corps sergeant who serves as commander of American Legion Post No. 2 in Council Bluffs.
Ernest Techau
Techau is a 90-year-old retired U.S. Air Force airman who served as a radar operator on the Distant Early Warning Line in Alaska.
American Legion Post No. 2
American Legion Post No. 2 is a veterans organization chapter in Council Bluffs, led by Patty Holeton.
The details
Techau served as a radar operator on the Distant Early Warning Line in Alaska during his Air Force service. Holeton is commander of American Legion Post No. 2 in Council Bluffs.
Timeline
1954 to 1957: Ernest Techau serves in the U.S. Air Force.
1984 to 1991: Patty Holeton serves in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Saturday, November 7, 2026, 11 a.m.: Council Bluffs Veterans Day parade begins downtown.
Legacy of Cold War Service
Techau's radar work on the Distant Early Warning Line places his service within the early Cold War effort to monitor Arctic airspace for incoming threats. His selection as grand marshal connects that era of northern air defense to the local observance of Veterans Day.
Residents planning to attend can arrive downtown before 11 a.m. Saturday to view the parade. Those interested in details can check the parade information page for updates.
The takeaway
Recognizing veterans through local events like this parade keeps individual service stories visible to the community. Attending or sharing parade information helps honor those who served.
What happens next
The Council Bluffs Veterans Day parade begins at 11 a.m. Saturday, November 7, 2026, in downtown Council Bluffs.
Further reading
Explore more Military coverage to see how local veterans honors fit into broader defense and service news.
More information
Find the schedule and details on the Council Bluffs Veterans Day parade information page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Daily Nonpareil.
