First Coast celebrates veterans

The 2008 Veterans Day Parade, produced by the City of Jacksonville Office of Special Events, featured more than 90 active duty and reserve military units, veterans groups, JROTC units, high school marching bands and floats representing myriad military support organizations.

"Jacksonville is home to many military families and our parade theme of 'Forever Grateful' honors those who have sacrificed for our freedom and to those who are currently protecting this great nation," said Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton.

The Marine Corps League Jacksonville Detachment exchanged Semper Fi's with patriots along the Veterans Day Parade route.

Grand Marshals included: Mayor John Peyton; retired Brig. Gen. James Rinaman of the Army National Guard; Rear Adm. Rick Cueroni a former superintendent of the US Coast Guard Academy; and retired Capt. Don Miller, a Navy submarine commander in World War II.

Active duty military honorees included Commander, Navy Region Southeast Rear Adm. Micha

Drum Major MUC Vincent Burrell leads Navy Band Southeast during the 2008 Veterans Day Parade in Jacksonville, Fla. To kick off the parade, the band's A Cappella Vocal Quartet sang the national anthem.

el Vitale and NAS Jacksonville Commanding Officer Capt. Jack Scorby Jr.

As Scorby prepared for the parade, he observed, "Since President Eisenhower, himself a veteran, formally established Veterans Day as a national holiday - it has united our country with solemn pride in the heroism of those who fought and those who died in the service of our country."

Larry Wilson, parade marshal for the VIP section, served in Viet Nam as a member of the Marine Corps.

Ken Reinsch was a radioman onboard USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31) during its 1968 -69 Vietnam cruise.

Amariyh Caldwell, 7, unfurls her American flag as she awaits the start of the 2008 Jacksonville Veterans Day Parade.

"Old Glory" ... long may she wave.