Saturday's events in Jefferson City to honor Missouri's Bicentennial have been in the planning stages for several months, and Gov. Mike Parson said he hopes people will take advantage and come out for the once-in-a-lifetime event.
On Wednesday, Cole County leaders came to the Governor's Office to present him with several bicentennial-themed remembrances.
The USS Missouri Commissioning Committee sent two 24-star flags to Pearl Harbor to be flown on the submarine USS Missouri and on the battleship USS Missouri.
Cole County Presiding Commissioner Sam Bushman, who is chairman of the commissioning committee, said they had flown the flags over the state Capitol prior to sending them out to the ships.
"One of these flags is a gift to the submarine and the other is being returned to us to present to you (Gov. Parson)," Bushman said. "It's part of our legacy."
Bushman said the USS Missouri submarine is currently deployed.
Because Missouri came in to the union as the 24th state, these were 24-star flags that flew over the ships. The 24-star flag was the National Flag until 1836 when Arkansas joined the union.
Parson noted when he visited Pearl Harbor it was the first time in the nation's history two USS Missouri vessels were assigned to the Seventh Fleet of the U.S. Navy in Honolulu.
"A flag was presented to me at that time, and it is one of the proudest things I have on display at the mansion," Parson said.
Bushman also gave Parson a medal from Sons of the American Revolution featuring the first governor of Missouri, Alexander McNair. Parson said this past week he visited the home of Missouri's second governor, Frederick Bates.
"We got to learn a lot of fascinating history while we were there including the fact that his brother was the attorney general for Abraham Lincoln," Parson said.
"Many of our earlier settlers were Revolutionary War veterans, so it's fitting we're remembering them now," Bushman added.
Parson credited his leadership team for putting the logistics together for Saturday's events. They will include the Bicentennial Inaugural Parade at 10 a.m.with nearly 100 entries, including the Budweiser Clydesdales. Bushman said Cole County will have an entry with a team of Missouri Mules pulling a wagon.
"You're going to see J.C. Penny's Cadillac," Parson said. "It's never been restored. It's been preserved in its 1959 condition. The grand marshal of the parade, Edith Harrington, who is 98, is a World War II veteran who served as a nurse. There are very few of those veteran still alive. She can still wear her uniform, and she's feisty enough that she can handle this ride."
The parade will be livestreamed on Gov. Parson's Facebook Page.
Following the parade, the governor and first lady Teresa Parson will host an ice cream social event outside the Governor's Mansion with 1,000 free scoops of ice cream courtesy of Ice Cream Factory.
Additionally, the Missouri State Capitol will feature various community engagement items and Missouri professional sports championship trophies, which will be available for viewing and photos from 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m.