By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – Santa Claus will take a back seat to those who fought for the United States on Saturday, Dec. 5, as a group of local veterans will lead off Alabaster’s annual Christmas Parade down U.S. 31.

The parade will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5, and will follow the same route as last year’s. The route will begin at the Ernest McCarty Ford dealership on U.S. 31 before turning right onto Second Place Northwest, traveling down First Street Southwest and ending at the stop sign in front of Southbrook Village.

Serving as the grand marshals of this year’s parade will be Alabaster resident and U.S. Air Force veteran Thomas Feltman – A veteran of the Korean and Vietnam wars whose American flag was recently replaced by the Alabaster Police Department – and Ron Jefferson – A U.S. Navy and Army veteran who served several tours of duty in Vietnam.

But the salute to local veterans doesn’t end there.

Riding on a float behind Feltman and Jefferson will be a group of Alabaster Vietnam War veterans as part of the city’s observance of the 50^th anniversary of the war.

“It will be a very patriotic float. I’m excited about it,” Alabaster Mayor Marty Handlon said during a Dec. 1 interview.

This will be the second consecutive year local military veterans have been showcased in the city’s Christmas parade, as the 2014 parade featured former U.S. Army Sgt. Noah Galloway.

The theme of this year’s parade will be “A Hometown Christmas,” and attendees are encouraged to line up along the southbound side of U.S. 31 along the parade route. The city will hold the parade rain or shine “unless conditions become unsafe for parade participants and spectators.”

The city will set up a judging station in front of the former City Hall building on U.S. 31, and floats will have a chance to conduct 1-minute performances for the judges when they stop in front of the building.

After the parade, the judges will award winners in the following categories: Best Holiday Spirit, Best Use of Theme, Best Walking Entry, Most Creative and Most Entertaining.