SPRINGFIELD, Ore. (KMTR) -- Stuffing the streets of Springfield in support of veterans, hundreds stood by to welcome in the annual Veterans Day Parade Sunday.
Hundreds of people marching and cheering took part in the Lane County Veterans Day Parade on Sunday, November 6th, 2011.
With at least 15 groups, the parade rolled down Mohawk Boulevard. This year’s theme was “Honoring All Who Served.”
The parade is one of the only ones in Lane County during the Veterans Day season, bringing in groups from Florence, Oakridge, Eugene / Springfield and other towns.
A local veteran, Paul Reffstrup rolled through Sunday’s parade, saying, “it's great to be appreciated by the people.”
A veteran from Florence, Paul Gargis offered his words of advice to the community as troops come home from Iraq by the end of 2011.
“Don't forget those young guys, those men and women over there today,” said Gargis.
Watching from the sidewalk with pride, a Korean War Veteran from Springfield, Tom Hooker came out to show his support.
“Those guys that went to war and came back, they call us heroes. We're not heroes. The guys are heroes are the ones that didn't come back... they're the real heroes,” said Hooker.
2011’s Veterans Day Parade is the 11th one organized by the Lane County Veteran’s Day Association.
Albany will hold its 60th Veterans Day Parade on Friday, November 11th, 2011. About 40,000 people are expected to show up to watch nearly 200 entries in that parade, which is billed at the largest west of the Mississippi.
