Salute to Veterans Parade

For the fourth year in a row Riverside held its Salute to Veterans Parade. This year there were over three hundred groups in the parade. Every branch was represented Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard. Theie were fly overs and bands. The Grand Marshall was Col. Mollett a Medal of Honor winner. I was in the parade and with other Vietnam Vets we handed out over three hundred American Flags along the parade route. The flags were given to children, Veterans, and active military that lined the parade route. Linda, and her Sister Diana came out to watch. It was great to see so many people willing to give up part of their weekend to cheer the Servicemen and Women, and the Veterans. When I got home I spent a little time working on remounting my Father's medals. I had first put them together and gave them to my Dad a few months before he pasted away. He never talk alot about his time in the service (over 20 years) until the last few months when I moved in to his place to take care of him. He wanted to know about my time in the Army. We found we had several things in common. We had both been at Fort Sill Oklahoma when we first went into the Army. I was able to take him to a Veterans Day service a few months before he passed. I could tell he was proud to have served his Country. I know his County was proud of him. My Dad was my hero, both because of what he thought me, but also what he gave to our Country. He was the main reason I am a Veteran. Many in my extended family have served, and they are all heros.