ROME — The 40th annual Honor America Days Celebration is fast approaching and the city of Rome is working to make it bigger and better than ever.

Planning is well under way for the celebration, which is slated to begin Friday, July 28, and continue through Aug. 6 with the theme “40th Anniversary.”

“We are excited to announce that the 10th Mountain Division Band from Fort Drum will be leading off our 40th Anniversary parade along with many bands and musicians as well as other specialty entertainers including the return of the giant puppets from Open Hand Theater in Syracuse,” said HAD Committee Chairperson Mayor Jacqueline M. Izzo.

“The annual Pops concert will be presented by Symphoria Saturday evening on the lawn of Fort Stanwix National Monument. Festivities will get under way at 8 p.m. featuring show tunes, rousing marches, Armed Forces medley, 1812 Overture and a terrific fireworks show,” she added.

This is the first Honor America Days celebration since the passing of William Guglielmo, who served the Rome Area Chamber of Commerce and greater community for more than 50 years.

“We miss Bill,” Izzo said. “But luckily, Larry Daniello and I have been doing this for 40 years. The event will be as big and better than ever, but we can’t minimize the loss of Bill. He was an integral part of the team. But I think his presence will be felt by all that day.”

Parade applications are available for printing on the city and chamber websites, www.romenewyork.com and www.romechamber.com, respectively; at the chamber office, 139 W. Dominick St.; the lobby of Rome City Hall, 198 N. Washington St., or participants may call the chamber at 315-337-1700 to request an application.

The parade will step off promptly at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 29, in the upper North James Street area near Rome Health. Marchers will continue down North James Street and then turn onto West Embargo Street, past the Reviewing Stand at the VFW and on to N. George Street continuing to its conclusion in the downtown area. The HAD Committee will be sharing information concerning the parade grand marshal and other events in the upcoming weeks.