'It's very heartwarming': Salinas Veterans Day parade makes a comeback for 2021
There was no shortage of smiles and cheers for the thousands who attended the 2021 Veterans Day parade in Downtown Salinas.
Residents said they were excited for the traditional event after its cancellation last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The parade kicked off with a ceremony that announced and honored the names of local Monterey County veterans who served their country.
For Salinas resident Christina Escoto, it was the perfect way to recognize and pay tribute to her partner who is an Army veteran, and her father who has since passed away.
"My dad was an Air Force vet," Escoto said. "It's just very heartwarming to be out here and recognizing him and just having those memories."
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Javier Escobar is another veteran who comes from a military family and said attending Thursday's parade was a good way to celebrate the accomplishments of those who once served.
"I feel proud of being out here and seeing all the other veterans and their excitement," he said.
Escobar and his partner Jessica Camargo were one of many families who brought their children out, not just to see the floats, marching bands and color guard flags, but also to give them an understanding of the role and importance of those who served the country.
"I feel like sometimes we take our veterans for granted, especially the new millennium," Camargo said. "Out there, they need to realize that there's people fighting for our rights and for our freedom."
Salinas resident and veteran Joe Keipert says he takes this day to remember service members who lost their lives.
"Just the passion and comradery out here, I think it means a lot to everyone," he said
Most event goers said keeping the annual parade going is a great way to carry on the legacy of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
History of Veterans Day
In November 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Nov. 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day, which in 1938 became Veterans Day.
The original concept for the celebration was for a day observed with parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business, according to the U.S. Office of Veterans Affairs.
This article originally appeared on Salinas Californian: Salinas Veterans Day parade makes a comeback for 2021
