After a local singer performed the national anthem, the City of Reno's Veterans Day parade was off and running.
Mayor Hillary Schieve surprised a local Air Force veteran by naming him the parade's grand marshal.
The parade celebrates all northern Nevada veterans, including Reno Park Ranger Scott Hoffman. As a former military police officer, it's fitting that he read the City of Reno's proclamation before the march kicked off.
A handful of veterans were in attendance. Wayne Holleman served in the Navy for 20 years.
"That's the longest parade I've ever seen," he said.
Holleman's friend Zeanous Thompson said it's an honor to be celebrated.
"For serving our country," Thompson said, "it's just a great appreciation for the outcome."
Thompson served in the Marine Corps from 1971 to 1975.Â
Megan Pentridge said she's proud to call Holleman "papa."
"Being a part of this man's family and seeing all the people that came out to say thank you, to bring awareness, especially for our veterans and the VFW, it means a lot to him and to our family," Pentridge said.
A student at the University of Nevada, Reno, said she makes it a point to stop by the parade annually.
"It really means a lot that somebody would lay down their life just so that I can have an education [and] freedom," said Caroline Beilke.
The organizations at the Reno parade include local JROTC chapters and the Sierra Nevada Junior Rodeo Club. They put on quite the show at the parade.
"I think [there were] about ten people riding on horses behind us," said Leyla Andrews, a member of the Sierra Nevada Junior Rodeo Club.
Beilke said honoring veterans is a year-round effort.
"Generally, as a community," she said, "we could just be able to recognize the sacrifice that people took for everyday people like me and my brothers and my sisters and my mother."
Folks said they appreciate seeing the younger generation come to the parade and show support for veterans.
"I love seeing the high school JROTC programs and being able to see the youth, just like me, be able to participate in such environments like this," Beilke said.
"[I'm] really proud of all of the young kids that were out here today. That is impressive," Pentridge said. "Those are our future generations, and I think their parents are doing a really good job."
