U.S. honors its military on Veterans Day

“I’m proud of all the groups out there”, said Karen Quintero, 36, of Long Island, who joined her husband Eric, 44, an Army veteran, and their two children Olivia, 7, and Ethan, 4. On every other day, I hope we give thanks to the active uniformed servicemen and women that are serving in harm’s way.

Hundreds lined the streets in downtown Fort Worth on Wednesday morning for the Tarrant County Veterans Day parade. “This is the one day a year where we really celebrate all of the veterans and thank them for their service and remember those who have died in combat”, he said. “I had this call to go back”. He continues to fight the cancer he got from radiation exposure, but at 87 marched in Wednesday’s parade and continues to collect books, blankets, movies and magazines he delivers to the waiting rooms at Veterans Affairs clinics and hospitals throughout Northern California.

Sgt. Javorina’s family stood behind him, just as they did all those years ago when he was in Vietnam.

The nearby Veterans Memorial Garden offered a place before and after the ceremony for people to look at more than 21 monuments in honor of those who served our country.

Gary Tibbetts, special assistant to U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Sarsota, said the percentage of residents in Manatee-Sarasota who are veterans is one of the highest in the nation.

The event, which began at 11:11 a.m., included a keynote speech by former Berkeley Mayor Shirley Dean, who became visibly upset while talking about an acquaintance who was a casualty of the Vietnam War. “We need to support them”.

It was during President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s administration when the legislation was amended and changed from Armistice Day to Veterans Day.

For years there was a park honoring marine veterans in Barelas but it was bulldozed to make way for the cultural center.

Honor Flight is a nonprofit organization that flies World War II veterans back to Washington, D.C.to see the World War II Memorial on the Capitol Mall.

Five armed service branches were recognized at a ceremony at the DECC. I was kind of disturbed when they said we couldn’t fly the Confederate Flag anymore.

For veterans, “we are used to operating in these kinds of awful weather conditions”, Walsh said.