Veterans Day Parade In Downtown Columbus

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Hundreds of people filled the streets of downtown Columbus early Saturday for the annual Veterans Day Parade.

The Parade started at 10am Saturday morning and featured servicemen from various branches of the military.

“It makes my heart glad that the nation recognizes their efforts, and it’s a real special day. A very special day,” says Col. Paul Smith of the United States Army.

The Columbus community came together to celebrate today’s veterans as well as to honor those who are no longer with us.

“It shows that we appreciate the veterans that served the country before us. My dad is a veteran. He was in the Air Force for about six years, and it really means a lot you know. Even serving now, he’s the reason why I kind of joined,” says Airman Anthony Halas.

“My grandfather was in WWI, and my father was in WWII, and my wife’s first husband was killed in WWII in October of 1944. It’s a great day to honor veterans,” says Sgt. 1st Class Herbert Miller.

Folks who attended the parade say it’s an important day because many veterans weren’t shown enough support in the past.

“I feel like it’s important because we have a lot of men and women out there from varying ranges of age who not everyone gets the support and love of the community like they needed to and and something like this helps the community appreciate that a bit better,” says Airman Hannah Bean.

Officials with the U.S. Air Force say Veterans Day is all about people coming together.

“Just to get all these different people out here…you know you don’t see that everyday. Seeing men in BDU’s, old uniforms, marines, army, navy,” says Bean.

“Oh, it was great man, going down there. We marched, and they were on the sides of the street cheering and thanking us for the service. It was real special. Very Special,” says Smith.

Saturday also served as a day for current members of the military to show respect for those they look up to most.

“Just seeing the smile on people’s faces. Maybe they remember something, the veterans and everything, when they see us walk by. They kind of say thank you for your service and we go thank you for your service because they’re the ones that we look up to ya know,” says Halas.

“I’d just like to say God bless the veterans,” says Smith.

The parade wrapped up with a wreath laying ceremony on the courthouse lawn.