The chilly temperature didn’t keep hundreds of residents from enjoying Hammond’s fourth annual Veterans Appreciation Day Parade in Hessville.
The 90-minute event included military veterans’ floats and motorcycles, local high school marching band entertainment, numerous floats from local American Legions and VFW posts, flyovers by the Lima Lima Flight Team and a short ceremony at Veterans Memorial in Hessville Park.
“We come to this every year, we wouldn’t miss it,” said Jackie Peterson, of Hammond, with her son, Pauly, 11. “There’s a lot of war veterans in our big family, and honoring them with this parade is the least we can do.”
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Many families lined the parade route, sporting warm hats, gloves, scarves, wraps and blankets.
“Even though we’re seniors, we like to get out in the fresh air, even when its chilly,” said Mary Perkins, with her husband, Jim . “There are not many cities that have a parade like this, and that’s sad since every family usually has men who have been in the wars. We’re proud to be residents of Hammond, they do a lot for their people.”
Giana Castillo, 11, of Hammond brought something unique to the parade: a hand-written poster thanking all U.S. war veterans.
Her mother, Trinity, and father, Benito Castillo Sr., are U.S. Army veterans; and her oldest brother Michael will enlist in the Army when he graduates from high school next year.
“I wanted to show my support and appreciation,” Giana said.
Vic and Bea Acevedo, of Hammond, also were along the parade route. Their daughter Carina, 25, serves with the Army National Guard, and other family members are veterans of the U.S. Marine Corps.
“This is the third year we’ve come to this parade,” Vic said. “It’s great that they always have such a good turnout; the veterans deserve this.”
Grand marshal for this year’s parade and keynote speaker was U.S. Army veteran William Emerson Sr., who served in Vietnam. He also is Hammond’s Fourth District Councilman.
He discussed some history about previous wars that United States in which soldiers were involved, specifically how soldiers were greeted after returning from battle.
“Things have changed drastically over the years,” Emerson said. “When many of our soldiers returned from Vietnam, they weren’t treated very well, even spitted upon. Many people didn’t know what those men had gone through.”
Sue Ellen Ross is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.