Terry Weiden is putting the finishing touches on Utica's Veterans Day celebration, but there is always room for more.

Weiden, a member of the Utica American Legion Pierce Davis Post 731 and parade chairman, said 128 units currently are involved in the village's parade, with more calls coming in daily asking to join. There is no fee to be in the parade.

The parade will step off at 1 p.m. Sunday at Utica Village Hall. During the event, the Illinois Air National Guard will fly over with a C-130 Hercules plane. At 1:30 p.m. the Lima Lima Flight Team from Naperville will make an overhead appearance. Among musicians playing in the parade will be the Chicago Police Bag Pipe Band of Emerald Society, the U.S. 144th Army Band and the U.S. Navy Band Great Lakes. The parade will end at Danny Carey Memorial Park.

This year, Tammy Duckworth, undersecretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, will arrive via a Blackhawk helicopter at 11:30 a.m., then address visitors following the parade. Duckworth is a veteran of the conflict in Iraq and a former Army aviator. She lost both her legs when her helicopter was hit by ground fire.

Other speakers will be Bill Flanagan, American Legion state commander, and Jules Spindler, state commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. U.S. Rep. Debbie Halvorson, D-Crete, planned to present an award to Post 731 that day as well, but she had to cancel, said Weiden. The award will be presented in January.

The parade will go on — rain or shine. But if the weather is inclement, the ceremony will be moved to Waltham South Elementary School in downtown Utica.

This is the third year the American Legion has spearheaded the parade and the size has grown over the years, starting with just 45 units in 2007 to more than 125 units expected Sunday. Weiden is proud of that fact.

"We need to honor our veterans. Some of them are getting old," he said.

Prior to the parade, from 8 a.m. to noon, veterans will be honored with a brunch. Weiden said this kind of celebration would not be possible without Utica's residents.

"It's all because of the people. They're are the ones who donate food," he said.

Weiden said any veteran who would like to march in the parade is welcome to do so. Wearing a uniform is not required. For more information about the event, contact Weiden at 815-667-4150.