Longmont celebrates veterans with parade, pin ceremony
Nov. 11—Military veterans received recognition throughout Longmont on Saturday as the city came together to thank those who served.
From Roosevelt Park to Third Avenue, downtown Longmont was packed with guests for the annual Veterans Day parade. Parade announcer and American Legion Post 32 Commander Ralph Bozella said this year's event brought a few thousand people outside to watch the Saturday morning procession.
"It was fabulous," Bozella said of the turnout. "This community is very supportive of our veterans."
This year's grand marshal was Ed Day, a Longmont resident, Vietnam and Korean War veteran and Purple Heart recipient. Day has served as marshal for the parade before, but he said it's always an honor.
"It's a chance to pay the public back," Day said. "There are a lot of vets that go through hard times, but I've been fortunate that I've ... had a life filled with good friends."
Vintage military vehicles, classic cars and motorcycles were a highlight of the parade, with many drivers representing clubs like the Top of the Rockies Corvette Association and the American Legion Riders. They waved American flags out their windows, high-fived spectators and even tossed candy to kids in the crowd as they cruised down Main Street.
St. Vrain Valley School District high school bands marched between parade entries, filling downtown with military branch theme songs. Local nonprofits were seen as well, including the Veterans Community Project, Longmont Meals on Wheels and the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Members of local Scout troops that marched in the parade also volunteered to serve the Veterans Day banquet dinner at Post 32 on Saturday evening.
"It's just a great chance to honor all the veterans," said Jared Hansberry, Scoutmaster for Troop 67. "My father is a veteran. It's good for the Scouts to see that and show honor to them, as well."
After the parade, Post 32 hosted a ceremony for Vietnam War-era veterans to receive their 50-year commemorative lapel pins. Post 32 Honor Guard member Gene Schiferl said he's handed out over 900 pins to veterans who qualify since the post started holding the ceremonies in 2017.
"These veterans, the Vietnam veterans, never got that kind of 'thank you,'" Schiferl explained. "I feel it's very important (to do it) on Veterans Day, because that really is focused on veterans."
On Saturday, six veterans came to the post to get their pins. Each received a salute from Schiferl as they were individually recognized for their service.
"People don't know about us, they don't know about what happened," said Lionel Goncalves, who served from 1972 to 1977 and got his pin on Saturday. "It's an honor, a big honor."
Post 32 adjutant Pat Lennon said previous pin ceremonies have been held at venues like the Longmont Senior Center. He said it's "absolutely wonderful" when they can happen at the post.
"You see grown men break down in tears 50 years later," Lennon said. "It's very emotional."
