Hundreds of people lined Fourth Street in downtown Las Vegas on Wednesday morning 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.
Dozens of uniformed Army soldiers marched in formation behind the motorcycles, handing out miniature American flags to children behind barricades. High school marching bands performed along the route, while officials from the Metropolitan Police Department, the city of Las Vegas, and North Las Vegas participated. Sheriff Kevin McMahill walked in front of a police Cybertruck, and North Las Vegas Mayor Pamela Goynes-Brown rode on a fire truck.
For Navy veteran Sam Micco, 80, the warm reception stood in sharp contrast to his return from Vietnam more than 50 years ago, when many Americans opposed the war and, by extension, the men who fought it. "This is very emotional for me," said Micco, 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, watched with his dog Zoe and called the event a great party. "I'm here to salute my brothers and sisters," he said. Air Force veteran Bob Ain, now a math lecturer at UNLV, said showing up for those who serve is important. "This is Vegas," Ain said. "We're supposed to celebrate. It's what we do."
North Las Vegas resident Synthia Stoddard, 43, attended to cheer on her son, a squad leader in Centennial High School's Junior ROTC. She and her daughter Lola, 13, expressed pride in his dedication. "This is about American spirit and pride — people from so many walks of life coming together to celebrate one common theme," Stoddard said.
Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal
Original reporting: Las Vegas Review-Journal →
English (US)·