Lincoln Veteran's Parade
Bob Vrana, Presiding
BIO
Antonio Marino grew up transferring to different coastal bases across the U.S. and one in Italy as his mom served in the Navy. Leading up to her retirement, they planted roots in Lincoln Nebraska. Antonio attended Northeast High School where he focused his studies on the industrial arts. During the summer before his senior year, he enlisted in the Marine Corps delayed entry program. Shortly after graduation, he shipped off to MCRD San Diego for boot camp and then to Camp Pendleton with the 1st Transportation Support Battalion for his first duty station. There Antonio worked as a Heavy Equipment Mechanic and continued field training. While in California, he was promoted to the rank of Corporal. Months after the 9/11 attack, he was transferred to 8th Engineer Support Battalion Okinawa Japan. While there, Antonio served on ship with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.
After separating from the Marine Corps in 2003, he started working in the family business while attending Southeast Community College for a degree in Marketing graduating in 2007. Using that education, he grew The Paper Puller Inc. into a well-known company in its field. Now part owner and while his father is retiring, Antonio still does the wallpaper removal along with other operational tasks. In 2016, he discovered the Marine Corps League and involved himself in many missions. He favored helping to furnish veteran’s homes and being in funeral Honor Guards. Through the League, he involved himself in the Nebraska Family and Veteran Task Force and Heroes Into Homes. Deep into the veteran community he learned about a petition for a city veterans parade. In April 2018, after several inquiries to the City Council, Antonio was given the green light to take on the parade. Since then, he has served as the founder and commander of the Lincoln Veterans Parade with the help of voluntary committee members. During the year long planning of the annual parade, he continues to interact with the community by taking on missions where he can. Recently, Antonio has been collecting and publishing video recorded stories of local veterans and supporters with the parade’s Honor Project. Earlier this year, he partnered with Jason Stiener of Hero Stock to put on a mini parade in Havelock for Patriots Day.
Antonio has been married to his wife Gail, for 17 years, who is a hospital nurse. Their daughter Lucy is involved with several school activities and junior roller derby.