The Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce announced the grand marshal of the annual Third of July Parade Friday. The grand marshal will be World War II veteran Andy Dyrdal of Albert Lea.

According to a press release, Dyrdal is a 1941 graduate of Albert Lea High School. He received his draft notice in December 1942 and joined the Air Force at St. Petersburg, Florida. He trained to be a radio operator at Scott Field in St. Louis, Missouri.

Dyrdal was later stationed in England and was in the control tower sending off planes on June 6, 1944, during the D-Day invasion of Normandy.

After the war ended, Dyrdal returned to Albert Lea where he worked for Skinner-Chamberlain until 1958. He spent the next 30 years delivering mail on the west side of Albert Lea until his retirement.

Dyrdal said he is very proud to represent the men and women veterans who fought in the war, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice and didn’t make it back.

“(Dyrdal) represents the many veterans of Freeborn County who have served our country and also has been an asset to our community,” said Tom Jones, a member of the committee that organizes the parade.

Dyrdal and his late wife, LoAnn, have two children and four grandchildren.

This year’s Third of July parade will begin at 6 p.m.

It will begin at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds, proceed south on Bridge Avenue, turn west on Fountain Street, turn south on St. Mary Avenue and end at Central Park.

Parade line-ups will be published in the Albert Lea Tribune at a later date and will also be available on the Chamber’s website at www.albertlea.org.