Last modified Wed., November 15, 2006 - 03:54 PM
Originally created Thursday, November 16, 2006

VETERANS DAY: Jacksonville honors those who have served

By Kaylee LaRocque, Staff Writer

A group of Sailors from NS Mayport participate in the parade with their inflatable Uncle Sam's hat.

Thousands of area residents and tourists lined the streets in downtown Jacksonville Saturday, dressed in red, white and blue to honor those who have served and who are currently serving in our armed forces during the annual Veterans Day Parade. The event kicked off at 11:01 a.m. as members of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Motorcycle Unit cleared the streets. Leading the procession was Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton and several grand marshals.

The parade featured thousands of participants including local military units, veteran's organizations, high school marching bands, motorcycle units, a corvette club and various other civic members who proudly celebrated the annual event. As each unit strode past the official viewing area, they acknowledged the dignitaries and special invited guests with performances or the command of ''eye's right.'' Many threw out candy as children scrambled to collect the goodies.

A strong support of patriotism was evident as young and old alike watched and cheered waving American flags as each of the units passed by. Veterans from all branches of the military proudly wore their uniforms, many reminiscing with strangers about their service to their country.

''We are here today to make sure that the veterans who have served this country so wonderfully are honored and made to feel the great heroes that they are,'' said Director of Military Affairs for the City of Jacksonville Dan McCarthy.

USS John F. Kennedy crewmembers wait to pass in front of the reviewing stand.

''This event is held each year to honor the great service of our veterans past and present and to acknowledge everything they've done throughout the many decades,'' remarked NAS Jax Commanding Officer Capt. Chip Dobson, who happily saluted the units parading past the reviewing stand.

Veterans Day celebrations are held all over the world each year on Nov. 11 in commemoration of when an armistice or temporary cessation of hostilities between the allied nations and Germany went into effect Nov. 11, 1918, during World War I.

In November 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Nov. 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: ''To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…''

HM3 Di Hu from Naval Medicine Support Center at NAS Jacksonville, rides with a member of the Jacksonville Vetts for Vets Club in the parade.

A Congressional Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) signed by the president May 13, 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday - - a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as ''Armistice Day.'' The name was officially changed to Veterans Day June 1, 1954 to honor all American veterans of all wars.

Robert Smith, 13, and Andrew Lodge, 10, proudly display their flags as the Ribault High School Chorus sings the national anthem.

Members of Navy Band Southeast proudly marches past the reviewing stand at the beginning of the parade.