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Formerly known as the Russ Martin Show Listeners Foundation Police and Fire Parade, the Heroes Day Parade is an annual event in North Texas to celebrate the role of police and fire workers as well as the military in protecting our lives every day.
History
Started in 2002, after the creation of the Russ Martin Show Listeners Foundation, the Police and Fire Parade was organized by the cast of The Russ Martin Show to show appreciation for the work of police and fire agencies around North Texas. The first parade started at the American Airlines Center in Downtown Dallas and ended at the Texas Motorplex in Ennis, Texas. The sheer popularity of the first parade caused the number of agencies involved to nearly double the next year. In 2003, the parade started from the American Airlines Center and ended at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie. This was a landmark year for the parade, which included not only the addition of two branches of military representation, but also the addition of Martin's own replica 1966 Batmobile as the pacecar.
In 2004, the event moved to a landmark day for police and fire agencies, September 11. The parade ran from the American Airlines Center to Texas Stadium in Irving. It was at the 2004 parade that Martin announced changes for the parade. As of September 11, 2004, the parade was no longer to be known as the RMS Police and Fire Parade, but instead to be called the Heroes Parade because it more accurately described the group of people the parade was established to celebrate.
In 2005, the event moved from its long-time starting position at the American Airlines Center to Texas Stadium, and ended at the Texas Motor Speedway.
In 2007 The Heroes Parade was held on September 15, 2007, and traveled from Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie to Texas Rangers's Ballpark in Arlington, Texas.