Veterans Day Parade gives people reason to remember

BRADENTON — Widows remembered husbands who served.

Daughters remembered fathers.

Grandfathers remembered comrades.

The Veterans Day Parade rekindled such memories Wednesday for participants and paradegoers who lined the route from Rossi Park to Monument Park.

High school marching bands played patriotic music, and JROTC units marched in cadence.

Dignitaries and honorees rode convertibles.

Onlookers’ American flags fluttered in the breeze.

It turned out to be a grand morning for a parade.

“We got done just before the rain, too,” said Ken McCoy, parade organizer and chairman of the Manatee County Veterans Council. As each unit passed by, Frances Fannin waved a flag, thinking of her late husband, Ralph, an infantryman who fought in Europe during World War II.

“I’m showing how much I appreciate him and all the other veterans who put their lives on the line,” the matriarch said.

Nearby, Janet Campbell, a registered nurse at Bradenton Surgical Group, thought of her deceased father, Charles, who served on a cruiser in the Pacific during WWII.

“I love parades, but this is heartfelt,” she said. “This parade means something special to all our veterans. I just wanted to pay my respects and give my support.”

It was apparent throughout the event, said Dave Tellin, a JROTC instructor at Lakewood Ranch High School as he marched with the 70-member unit.

“There’s real patriotism in these kids today, and veterans appreciate these people coming out and honoring them,” said the retired Army master sergeant.

Sam Gregory is one of those kids.

“Today’s the day you give thanks to those who risked their lives so we could have the opportunity to march in a parade,” said the Manatee High JROTC major.

The sentiment resonates with Ralph Hager, a Korean War veteran.

He was aboard one of the Navy warships that covered the Marines’ epic fighting withdrawal from the Chosin Reservoir to the North Korean port of Hungnam.

“To do what we did, to still be here and celebrate those who did come back, it’s a wonderful feeling we never want to forget,” Hager said.

Forgotten neither Wednesday were the dead and wounded from last Thursday’s horrific shooting spree at Fort Hood, Texas.

U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Sarasota, was one speaker who addressed the tragedy.

Col. Larry Burnette was another.

“Everybody please keep the deceased, the wounded and their families in our prayers,” said the retired Bayshore High JROTC instructor. “It is so very important.”

Vin Mannix, local columnist, can be reached at 745-7055, or write him at Bradenton Herald, P.O. Box 921, Bradenton, Fla. 34206 or e-mail him at vmannix@bradenton.com. Please include a phone number for verification.