KILLEEN, TX — Preparations are underway for the 57th Annual Killeen Christmas Parade, which is scheduled to make its way through downtown Killeen Saturday.
The Salvation Army will be one of more than 80 floats participating in the parade this year.
Lieutenant Chantel Millin said she always looks forward to seeing all of the smiling faces along the parade route.
“Christmas parades are a great way to bring the community together to celebrate the season and comradery of it all,” Lt. Millin said.
Lt. Millin now serves as the commanding officer of the Salvation Army of Bell County, which formed earlier this year when the Killeen and Temple branches merged to serve all of Bell County.
“It helps to bring the county together. As we celebrate things together, we go through it together. It also allows us to serve together," she said.
The Salvation Army’s service will be on fully display Saturday as their float makes its way along the parade route collecting donations.
“It ensures that a child that’s in our community, that may not have something to open up on Christmas day, gets to have something under the tree,” Lt. Millin said.
For Lt. Millin, it’s so much more than a parade. It’s about doing the most good as a community.
“It’s a great time to come together, to fellowship with others, to be a little cold together, to share some laughs, some hot chocolate, and even with everything that is happening right now, we can share a little joy,” she said.
The 57th Annual Killeen Christmas Parade will begin Saturday at 4:30 p.m. at the corner of W. Avenue D and N. 2nd St.
