HOWARD COUNTY, MD — A retired Air National Guard colonel has been named the grand marshal of the 12th annual Howard County Veterans Day Parade and Celebration.
The Howard County Veterans Foundation, along with the Veterans Day Parade and Ceremony Planning Committee, chose retired Col. Andrew I. Wolkstein to be at the helm of the 2026 parade.
Organizers bestow the grand marshal title on individuals who represent the values of the Howard County community of veterans and military families.
This year, organizers recognized a "citizen soldier," a service member with the National Guard or Reserves. The recognition coincides with the 250th anniversary of America's founding and honors the U.S. military tradition of citizen soldiers who serve both as community members and service members ready for national defense, the organizations said.
"Throughout his adult life, Andrew Wolkstein has embodied selfless service to his patients, fellow military service members, fellow veterans and his community. Howard County, Maryland, and our nation are stronger because of citizen soldiers like Andy Wolkstein — individuals who become pillars of their communities and their country," said retired Army Col. James Gregory Jolissaint, commander of American Legion Post 156, who nominated Wolkstein.
Wolkstein was commander of the 167th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron with the West Virginia Air National Guard. He served as a nurse for 40 years, including 11 years in civilian clinical nursing roles before joining the Air National Guard in 1983. His expertise includes emergency nursing, flight nursing, hospital and nursing administration and materials management.
Wolkstein balanced his civilian career and family responsibilities with his duties in the Air National Guard, including monthly and annual training and long-term deployments. He was deployed during Operation Desert Storm, Operation Desert Shield, Operation Joint Endeavor and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He received 24 military ribbons, including the Meritorious Service Medal.
"I always explained to my airmen and airwomen that being in the National Guard or Reserves is like a juggling act with three balls in the air: family, work and Guard," Wolkstein said. "If you can keep all three balls up, great, but if you need to drop one, which one will you sacrifice?"
Throughout his military service, Wolkstein held civilian nursing roles in hospitals in Maryland before joining the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2009 and retiring from the Air National Guard in 2010.
He retired from federal service in 2016 and now serves as a resource officer and immediate past commander of the Adams, Hanna, Moore Memorial American Legion Post 156. He lives in Ellicott City with his wife and has five children and five grandchildren.
The Howard County Veterans Day Parade and Celebration will be Nov. 8 in downtown Columbia starting at 9:30 a.m.
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