Lemoore Veterans Parade strikes chord with vets and parade lovers who pack downtown

Tuesday, November 12, 2013 - 6:19pm

One of the highlights of the first annual Veterans Day Parade was this American Legion float depicting the raising of the flag at Iwo Jima.

Photo by Bill Burris, Photography for Kings County

Lemoore’s first ever Veterans’ Day Parade, sponsored by the Lemoore Downtown Merchants and Lemoore American Legion Post 100, was a big success Monday night as throngs packed the downtown to watch local groups, floats, vintage cars, Navy brass and more proudly parade down D Street in honor of veterans.

This first-ever parade was assembled to honor all past, present and future veterans and their families for their service and sacrifice to our great nation.

Veterans Day began as the day that marked the end of World War I - at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. Ninety-five years later, we honor our service members' courage, commitment and dedication to this great nation through parades, celebrations and festivals.

“This is something that was overdue,” said John Ince, one of the parade organizer’s, also a member of the American Legion. “We’re going to continue with the American Legion following up and next year and we’re going to get bigger and better.”

Among many entries, one of the highlights of the parade was an Iwo Jima float, something Ince had a hand in. It depicted the famous photograph of Marines raising the flag on Iwo Jima. “I had seen a Riverdale church group do it at their Fourth of July celebration and I had done it a couple of times,” said Ince, “but this is the first time we actually put it on a trailer … and we were able to get some Marines and Seabees to wear their green VDUs and be outfitted with some rifles … and I think we did a great job in putting it together.”

One of the parade’s judges, Tony Onorati, a Navy veteran, couldn’t have been more pleased with the parade. “It’s neat to see the entire community out here,” he said. “There are hundreds and hundreds of people who showed up on very short notice, and it was just neat to see everybody come together.”