The legacy of Farmersville’s most famous son will once again take center stage this weekend as Audie Murphy Day returns to downtown Farmersville.

The annual celebration honoring World War II hero Audie Murphy and military veterans begins Friday, June 19, with special exhibits at the Farmersville Heritage Museum and continues Saturday with a full slate of activities, including a veteran’s breakfast, parade, memorial tributes and a ceremony at the Historic Onion Shed.

A new addition this year is the Path of Remembrance: A White Carnation Tribute. Organizers will provide 250 white carnations for visitors to place at Freedom Plaza in honor of veterans and fallen service members as part of the nationwide America 250 observance.

Saturday’s activities begin with the annual breakfast for veterans from 7:30 to 9 a.m., followed by a downtown parade at 9:30 a.m. The Fort Hood Sergeant Audie Murphy Club will participate in the ceremony, and retired Army First Sergeant Hud Roberts will present the Riderless Horse tribute honoring fallen service members.

Following the parade, guests are invited to the Veterans Ceremony at the Historic Onion Shed, where Tommy Moore, mayor of Gainesville and president of the Medal of Honor Host City Program, will speak on the significance of the nation’s highest military decoration. Three veterans also will receive Quilts of Valor.

Visitors can also tour the Farmersville Heritage Museum, which recently unveiled a custom-made suit Murphy wore in the 1958 film “The Quiet American.” Additional memorabilia and a World War II living history encampment will be featured throughout the weekend.

Audie Murphy Day traces its roots to Murphy’s celebrated 1945 homecoming and remains one of Farmersville’s longest-running community traditions.

For a complete schedule, visit audiemurphyday.org.

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