In late 1999, Mary Ellen Landry contacted Donna Leach Yates and Dick E. Wilson with a proposed plan to form a committee whose purpose would be to conduct an annual Veterans Parade to be held on the Mississippi Gulf Coast on or near the observance of National Veterans Day. The three then met with the Executive Director of the Biloxi Chamber of Commerce and the beginning of Mississippi's first Annual Veterans Parade was born. Each had ties to the military. Mary Ellen Landry was married to a retired Air Force NCO; Donna Yates was married to a retired Army NCO and was the daughter of a Vietnam Veteran (KIA) Chief Warrant Officer-2 James Willis Leach; and Dick E. Wilson was a retired Lieutenant Colonel, Air Force Fighter Pilot and Vietnam Veteran.

It was determined that the Parade would be held on the closest Saturday to the November 11th Memorial Day federal holiday honoring military veterans. The primary reason to set the date on a Saturday was to provide an opportunity for school age children to learn civic pride, participate and attend the Annual Veterans Parade as well as promote business for the downtown merchants and store owners.

A committee of volunteers was soon formed and Ms. Landry and Ms. Yates were elected by the Committee to serve as Co-Chairs for the first Veterans Parade. The Mississippi Gulf Coast towns of Biloxi and Gulfport both agreed to host the parade on alternating years. In 2000, it was determined that the City of Gulfport was the best prepared at the time to host the first Veterans Parade on Saturday, November 11, 2000. The Committee then chose Vietnam Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, Major General James E Livingston, United States Marine Corps (Retired), as the first Veterans Parade Grand Marshal. The theme for the 2000 Parade paid tribute to the Silver Anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War.

With patriotic feelings at an all time high following "9-11", plans quickly materialized for the 2nd Annual Veterans Parade. Once again, Gulfport played host and the parade was held on Saturday, November 10, 2001, in tribute to our Nation's recipients of the Purple Heart. Lieutenant General Bryan Shotts, United States Air Force (Retired), former Keesler Air Force Center Commander, honored the committee by serving as the parade Grand Marshal. Kirby Bernich was elected as the 1st President of the newly formed Board of Directors for the Mississippi Gulf Coast Veterans Parade.

In 2002, the Parade Board and Committee members continued to draw interest and support. The 3rd Annual Veterans Parade was held in the City of Biloxi in tribute to the Silver Star Medal for Valor Recipients. Lieutenant General Clark Griffith, United States Air Force (Retired), former 2nd Air Force Commander, Headquarters Keesler Air Force Base served as the Parade Grand Marshal. Prior to the 2002 Parade, the Parade Board and Committee were saddened by the loss of the first Parade President, Colonel Kirby Bernich, who passed away. Major General James Garner, former Mississippi Adjutant General (Retired) and Parade Board Member was elected as the new President of the Veterans Parade. Lieutenant Colonel Dick Wilson was elected Vice-President and Ms. Donna Yates was employed as the Executive Director.

The 4th Annual Veterans Parade was held again in Biloxi on Saturday, November 8, 2003, in honor of our Nation's Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross and in tribute to the men and women of our Nation's Armed Forces who were deployed and fighting for the security of our Nation and liberation of the depressed people on foreign soil. Honorable Jeremiah "Jerry" O'Keefe, Sr., former Marine Corps Ace Fighter Pilot in World War II and the former Mayor of Biloxi, served as the Parade Grand Marshal. Mr. O'Keefe was also the recipient of the Navy Cross and the Distinguished Flying Cross. Major General James Garner continued to serve as Board President.

The 5th Annual Veterans Parade returned to Gulfport and was held on Saturday, November 13, 2004, once again under the direction of Board President Garner. The 2004 Annual Parade honored all Veterans of all Services, Past and Present. Colonel Lawrence "Larry" Roberts, USAF (Retired), former Tuskegee Airman and Vietnam War Veteran was to serve as the Parade Grand Marshal, but, regrettably, Colonel Roberts passed away just prior to the event.

Originally, the 6th Annual Veterans Parade was scheduled to be held in Biloxi in November 2005. The Mississippi Gulf Coast was struck by Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005. Due to the mass destruction of life and property caused by this natural disaster, Major General Garner and the Board decided to forego the parade this year. President Garner and other officers continued in their previous positions.

The following year on November 11, 2006, the actual 6th Annual Veterans Parade was held in Biloxi as planned. Major General Harold Cross, Mississippi's Adjutant General, served as the Parade Grand Marshal. The theme for the 2006 Parade was to honor all our Veterans who had returned from previous wars and helped in the recovery from Hurricane Katrina. Once again, tragedy struck the ranks of the dedicated team of the Veterans Parade. Ms. Donna Yates, the tireless and dedicated Executive Director died of Lupus just prior to the parade. Lieutenant Colonel Dick Wilson was elected as Board President and the Gulf Coast Annual Veterans Parade received a 501(c) Non-Profit status. The new organization name for the Annual Veterans Parade became the Gulf Coast Veterans Parade, Inc. with this nonprofit status operating exclusively for the promotion of civic pride. Major General Garner took over as the Parade Treasurer, and Chief Master Sergeant Charles Carrigan was elected as the Board Vice-president

The 7th Annual Veterans Parade was held in Gulfport on Saturday, November 10, 2007. Chief Warrant Officer-3 Lewis J. Shank (Retired) served as Parade Grand Marshal. The Parade was dedicated to the Veterans of the Gulf War and the many service members that had lost their lives in battle. Lieutenant Colonel Wilson continued to serve as the Board President and other officers and committee chairmen continued in previous positions.

The 8th Annual Veterans Parade was held in Biloxi on Saturday, November 8, 2008. The Parade Grand Marshal was Command Sergeant Major, Edward Horstman (Retired), United States Army, a Korean and Vietnam Veteran. Chief Horstman was a prisoner of war during the Korean War. A highly decorated hero, Chief Horstman received the Distinguished Service Cross, The Silver Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, The Bronze Star with Valor and Oak Leaf Cluster, The Purple Heart with 3 Leaf Clusters, The Air Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation and several other Campaign Military Awards. The Parade was dedicated to all Veterans that served in our Armed Forces during the years of the Vietnam War. All officers and chairman remained in their previous positions.

The 9th Annual Veterans parade was held in Gulfport on Saturday, November 7, 2009. Command Sergeant Major, Adelchi Pilutti, United States Army, who served in the Army Airborne Division from January 1941 until November 1945 and parachuted into Normandy, France on June 6, 1944, serving as Parade Grand Marshal. A highly decorated war hero, Command Sergeant Major Pilutti received countless medals and awards. It was noted that while serving in the Army National Guard in later years, he served under Major General Garner prior to retiring from the Guard. The Parade paid tribute to all the man and women who served in the Armed Forces and their supporting units during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The 10th Annual Gulf Coast Veterans parade was held in Biloxi on Saturday, November 13, 2010. The Parade Grand Marshal is former Apollo 13 Mission Pilot, former fighter pilot and Biloxi native, Astronaut Fred Haise. The parade was one of the largest and best parades held in the past ten years. The theme was a tribute to all Past, Present and Future Astronauts in the United Stated Space Program and the many, many outstanding units supporting the command. Many of the participants in the program, both Astronauts and immediate support personnel were and are former military pilots in various branches of the service. There was special recognition to those who have lost their lives while participating in the space program. NASA and the Stennis Space Center, located in southwest Mississippi were invited to be represented and were special guests for this annual event.

The 11th Annual Gulf Coast Veterans Parade will be held in d'Iberville, Mississippi on Saturday, November 12, 2011. The Parade Grand Marshal is d'Iberville resident Albert "Al" Balius. Mr Balisu is a decorated WWII veteran. He will be throwing a special 2011 Grand Marshall doubloon. This parade is the first time it will be held in d'Iberville. It is shaping up to be one of the largest and best of the parades that have been held. The theme is in tribute to all veterans from WWII. As a special treat d'Iberville is sponsoring a float that has many local veterans from WWII riding. The parade ends at the new d'Iberville Town Green where several static displays will be erected along with guest entertainment.

This is the fourth year in a row that the Gulf Coast Veterans Parade has been awarded designation as an official Veterans Day Regional Site by the Veterans Day National Committee.

In general the Annual Gulf Coast Veterans Parade has been very successful during the past 10 years. Annually participants have included hundreds of marching troops, ROTC and JROTC Units, Boy and Girl Scout units, American Legion and VFW Posts, Purple Heart Units, Disabled Vets, Biloxi Veterans Affairs Center, Bands from Middle Schools, High School and Colleges, local and state VIP's and Dignitaries, Boys and Girls Clubs of the Gulf Coast, motorcycle groups, and mini-flyovers. Over 100 units are expected to participate this year.