From the Reno Police and Fire Departments and local JROTC chapters, to local veterans’ programs like the Veterans Guest House, dozens of organizations took part in honoring those who served during the 2026 Veterans Day Parade in Reno.
“Going to Vietnam in '68 was, you know, a time that I'll never forget,” says Rick McDermid, a local Navy veteran.
McDermid served in the Navy from 1965 to 1970. During an interview with 2 News Nevada, he spoke about his time in Vietnam, as well as the time he helped recover the capsule from the Apollo 8 mission, and he expressed his gratitude for the community.
“I really appreciate the City of Reno and everybody else that's involved putting it together not just for me, but for the families and the generations that are coming up,” he says.
Lynn Henderson served in Somalia during the 1990’s. The large crowds at Reno's annual parade were a welcome surprise for the Marine Corps vet.
“To have this many people recognize the people that served, this is a really a really great thing,” he says. “I had no idea that it would be this many people out here today."
Henderson’s service lasted from 1991 to 1997.
“I love it,” says John Dwyer, an Army veteran, when asked about the parade. “I’ve been coming for the last five years at the same spot."
Dwyer, who spent 24 years in active duty and 16 years working to support the Army, recounts the time he was nearly deployed for Operation Desert Storm.
“They called for my unit three times, and we had to deny it because we had just gone through a reorganization and didn't do what they wanted us to do anymore,” he says.
The theme of this year's parade is "veterans helping veterans and their families,” highlighting the contributions of organizations like the Veterans Guest House and Liberty Dogs. For veterans we spoke to, that theme means honoring the brotherhood of the military and the ways reno is giving back to them.
“That means to me, veterans looking out for each other, helping each other get work, helping each other find help if we need it,” says Henderson.
“Help our veterans out,” Dwyer says. “You know what I like? Liberty Dogs. I went to one of their trainings and they're quite good."
“[Reno] recently built a veterans’ home over at the end of Kietzke [Lane],” adds McDermid. “They're doing things in the right direction."
2 News Nevada thanks all of the veterans in northern Nevada for their service.
