All-American Heroes breakfast, Field of Flags kick off The Big Squeeze

The All-American Heroes breakfast and Field of Flags pushed Decatur County’s summer celebration toward veterans, while also putting the Carl Perkins Center’s child-abuse-prevention mission in front of local families. In a June 3 conversation with Emily Keeton, Clay Jordan, the county director for the Decatur County Carl Perkins Center, helped frame the event as more than a patriotic stop on the calendar.

The Big Squeeze began as a county-wide lemonade stand fundraiser for local veterans and has grown into what Decatur County now calls a must-attend summer kick-off event held on the Friday before July 4. The day starts with the All-American Heroes breakfast for veterans, and the lemonade stands open at 10 a.m. Proceeds from the stands go to the local veterans organization. The full schedule also includes a scavenger hunt, a patriotic parade through downtown Parsons and a free concert for families.

The Field of Flags gave the event its visual centerpiece. The Carl Perkins Center’s 2026 listing said the flag display runs June 11 through July 7 at the Decatur County Bank location in Parsons, and each flag costs $20. Every purchase includes a folded flag and a name card for the honoree or memorialized person, turning the bank lot into a public tribute to veterans and other community figures.

That honoring role has long been part of the tradition. Earlier event notices said the All American Hero breakfast started at 8 a.m. at the Decatur County Bank parking lot, followed by a short program at 8:30 a.m. Names of honorees were read during the breakfast, and the display has also been used to recognize law enforcement, first responders, teachers and other people who have had a major influence on the community. The flags have flown next to Decatur County Bank in Parsons, with the Carl Perkins Center’s office at 125 Central Lane just a short distance away.

For the center, the event reaches beyond recognition and into civic purpose. Its Decatur County work is centered on child abuse prevention and family support in West Tennessee, and The Big Squeeze gives that mission a high-profile place in one of the county’s biggest summer gatherings. What started as a simple lemonade stand fundraiser has become a full-day civic festival, with veterans, children and downtown Parsons all sharing the same spotlight.