Victoria residents had a chance to thank and recognize the city’s military veterans at a Veterans Day parade held downtown Friday morning.
The parade featured organizations from across Victoria County, including numerous veterans organizations, law enforcement agencies, fire departments, marching bands and other community organizations.
It wasn’t a quiet event. Crowds of people lining Main, Church and Bridge streets cheered loudly as motorcycles and classic cars revved their engines.
The Victoria East High School marching band played the “Marine’s Hymn” as they marched down Main Street, preceded by the East cheerleading squad, who performed a cheer routine in front of the microphone podium, where beloved local personality Gary Moses introduced the floats as they paraded by.
The Victoria West band at Friday’s Veterans Day parade in Victoria.
Bands and cheerleading squads from Victoria West and several middle schools also performed, and veterans associations including the Catholic War Veterans, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Military Order of the Purple Heart and the Vietnam Veterans of America, among others, participated.
Of course, the parade was not just an opportunity to celebrate the many organizations that give Victoria life.
The parade, and the ceremony that followed on the steps of the Victoria County Courthouse, recognized the veterans in Victoria and across the country who served in the US military, thanking them for their sacrifices.
One Victoria veteran at the parade, Jerry Green, who served in the US Army’s 1st Infantry Division in Vietnam, said he appreciates the community recognizing veterans.
“I give them honor because I understand what they’ve done, and I appreciate it just as much as I do like appreciation myself,” Green said. “But what I like is the veterans that have come up to me, and will make remarks to me about what they did and how we served. And we we don’t look for a lot of adulation, but we appreciate when a community can come together and pay tribute to people that are willing to serve and do it for one reason, and that’s to maintain freedom.”
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Victoria Veterans Day parade
Clara Chatman waves her American flag as the cars begin their way down the street during Friday’s Veterans Day parade in Victoria. “We love our soldiers and we want to let them know how patriotic we feel about them,” Chatman said.
Victoria Veterans Day parade
Victoria West cheer team goes down the street during Friday’s Veterans Day parade in Victoria.
Victoria Veterans Day parade
The flag bearers march down the street during Friday’s Veterans Day parade in Victoria.
Victoria Veterans Day parade
Members of the Marine Corps recruitment team waves to the crowd during Friday’s Veterans Day parade in Victoria.
Victoria Veterans Day parade
American Legion Post 166 at Friday’s Veterans Day parade in Victoria.
Victoria Veterans Day parade
The parade goes toward the Victoria County Courthouse during Friday’s Veterans Day parade in Victoria.
Victoria Veterans Day parade
The Victoria West band at Friday’s Veterans Day parade in Victoria.
Victoria Veterans Day parade
Members of Catholic War Veterans at Friday’s Veterans Day parade in Victoria.
Victoria Veterans Day parade
Members of Victoria Hospice at Friday’s Veterans Day parade in Victoria.
Victoria Veterans Day parade
Hailey Pfeil sings the national anthem during Friday’s Veterans Day parade in Victoria.
Victoria Veterans Day parade
An inflatable eagle at Friday’s Veterans Day parade in Victoria.
Victoria Veterans Day parade
The Veteran’s Day parade rolls up North Bridge Street on Friday as hundreds of people cheer on the floats and those marching along the route. For a photo gallery, go to VictoriaAdvocate.com.
Victoria Veterans Day parade
Victoria East High School cheer and band comes down the street during Friday’s Veterans Day parade in Victoria.
Victoria Veterans Day parade
Retired brigadier general Clint Anderson stands next to Gary Moses during Friday’s Veterans Day parade in Victoria.
Victoria Veterans Day parade
The crowd watches the Friday’s Veterans Day parade in Victoria.
Victoria Veterans Day parade
Veterans wave to the crowd during Friday’s Veterans Day parade in Victoria.
Victoria Veterans Day parade
Cub Scouts go down the street during Friday’s Veterans Day parade in Victoria.
Victoria Veterans Day parade
The national anthem is played during Friday’s Veterans Day parade in Victoria.
Victoria Veterans Day parade
Vietnam Veterans of America Crossroads Chapter 898 at Friday’s Veterans Day parade in Victoria.
Victoria Veterans Day parade
Clara Chatman waves her American flag as the cars begin their way down the street during Friday’s Veterans Day parade in Victoria. “We love our soldiers and we want to let them know how patriotic we feel about them,” Chatman said.
Victoria Veterans Day parade
Victoria West cheer team goes down the street during Friday’s Veterans Day parade in Victoria.
Victoria Veterans Day parade
The flag bearers march down the street during Friday’s Veterans Day parade in Victoria.
Victoria Veterans Day parade
Members of the Marine Corps recruitment team waves to the crowd during Friday’s Veterans Day parade in Victoria.
Victoria Veterans Day parade
American Legion Post 166 at Friday’s Veterans Day parade in Victoria.
Victoria Veterans Day parade
The parade goes toward the Victoria County Courthouse during Friday’s Veterans Day parade in Victoria.
Victoria Veterans Day parade
The Victoria West band at Friday’s Veterans Day parade in Victoria.
Victoria Veterans Day parade
Members of Catholic War Veterans at Friday’s Veterans Day parade in Victoria.
Victoria Veterans Day parade
Members of Victoria Hospice at Friday’s Veterans Day parade in Victoria.
Victoria Veterans Day parade
Hailey Pfeil sings the national anthem during Friday’s Veterans Day parade in Victoria.
Victoria Veterans Day parade
An inflatable eagle at Friday’s Veterans Day parade in Victoria.
Victoria Veterans Day parade
The Veteran’s Day parade rolls up North Bridge Street on Friday as hundreds of people cheer on the floats and those marching along the route. For a photo gallery, go to VictoriaAdvocate.com.
Victoria Veterans Day parade
Victoria East High School cheer and band comes down the street during Friday’s Veterans Day parade in Victoria.
Victoria Veterans Day parade
Retired brigadier general Clint Anderson stands next to Gary Moses during Friday’s Veterans Day parade in Victoria.
Victoria Veterans Day parade
The crowd watches the Friday’s Veterans Day parade in Victoria.
Victoria Veterans Day parade
Veterans wave to the crowd during Friday’s Veterans Day parade in Victoria.
Victoria Veterans Day parade
Cub Scouts go down the street during Friday’s Veterans Day parade in Victoria.
Victoria Veterans Day parade
The national anthem is played during Friday’s Veterans Day parade in Victoria.
Victoria Veterans Day parade
Vietnam Veterans of America Crossroads Chapter 898 at Friday’s Veterans Day parade in Victoria.
During the ceremony which followed the parade, Ret. Brig. Gen. Clint Anderson, of the US Army, spoke about the importance of recognizing the holiday.
“This day gives us all precious opportunity to reflect,” he said. “To reflect on what it means to be a patriot, to reflect on what it means to be a nation tested by war, and to reflect on both the costs and blessings of liberty.”
He also recognized the importance of veterans’ families.
“When our military members deploy overseas, they leave behind their families, their friends, who in their absence soldier on, life as normal. Only you and I know it’s anything but normal,” Anderson said. “Across the many distant miles that separate them, over the weeks and months that divide them, those who deployed abroad are always in our thoughts and in our prayers. Those who stayed behind carry the concerns, the worries, and the fears that their loved ones might go into harm’s way.”
The Veteran’s Day parade rolls up North Bridge Street on Friday as hundreds of people cheer on the floats and those marching along the route. For a photo gallery, go to VictoriaAdvocate.com.
Another Victoria veteran, 96-year-old Abraham Suarez, served in World War II in the US Army Air Corps and then later in the US Air Force. He said Veterans Day is very important to him.
“It means everything to me,” he said, adding, “I’m very proud and happy that I served my country.”
Ian Grenier covers K-12 and higher education for the Victoria Advocate. You can reach him at [email protected].
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