Mayor Rogero met with members of the local Kerbela Shrine today to present them with a proclamation celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Kerbela Shrine Corvette Unit.
The Kerbela Shrine Circus will be held Friday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 13 at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 14 at 1 p.m and 7 p.m. at Thompson-Boling Arena. Tickets are $12 - call 865-573-1901 for tickets or tickets will be available at arena box office on day of event.
The Kerbela Corvette Unit has entertained children and adults for 30 years in the Knoxville and surrounding areas with the Christmas, 4th of July and multiple other parades.
The Kerbela Corvette Unit has also participated in the Kerbela Shrine Circus to raise money for the hospitals and it has contributed over the past 30 years to multiple local charities such as Susan G. Komen Foundation, Scottish Rite Shoe Fund and the Shrine Hospitals.
Howard and Bud Watson formed the Kerbela Corvette Unit in 1982 - the year that the World's Fair was held in Knoxville.
The first time the newly formed Kerbela Corvette Unit paraded was at SASA in Myrtle Beach and the second time was at the 1982 World's Fair in Knoxville.
Howard Watson was the captain for the first five years, before turning it over to Harold Seiber; the other captains have been Tom Chambers, Ed Navarro, Mel Hines, Don Keener, Carl Huckaby, Bob Pierce, Larry Martin, Mike Wise and Dave Cooper.