Hundreds of spectators lined Fourth Street in downtown Las Vegas on Wednesday for the annual Veterans Day Parade, organized by the nonprofit Veterans Action Group. The procession began at 9:30 a.m. on Garces Avenue and traveled down Fourth Street, led by bikers from several veterans motorcycle clubs, including the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, many flying flags honoring prisoners of war and those missing in action.
Uniformed Army soldiers marched in formation behind the motorcycles, handing out miniature American flags to children along the barricades. High school marching bands performed as the parade continued, drawing cheers from the crowd. Officials from the Metropolitan Police Department, the city of Las Vegas, and North Las Vegas participated, including Sheriff Kevin McMahill and North Las Vegas Mayor Pamela Goynes-Brown.
For Navy veteran Sam Micco, 80, the warm reception stood in sharp contrast to his return from Vietnam more than 50 years ago, when he said many Americans disagreed with the war and, by extension, with the men who fought it. "This is very emotional for me," Micco said, attending the parade for the second time. "I come down here, and everyone shakes my hand. It doesn’t get any better than that."
Las Vegas native Lorenzo Stanley, who served in the Navy for 10 years, said he came "to salute my brothers and sisters," holding his dog, Zoe, who wore an American flag in her harness. Air Force veteran Bob Ain, now a math lecturer at UNLV, emphasized the importance of showing up for those who serve, adding, "This is Vegas. We’re supposed to celebrate. It’s what we do."
North Las Vegas resident Synthia Stoddard, 43, attended with her daughter, Lola, 13, to cheer on her son, a squad leader in Centennial High School’s Junior ROTC. "He looks really great out there," Stoddard said. "This is about American spirit and pride — people from so many walks of life coming together to celebrate one common theme."
Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal
Original reporting: 8 News Now →
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