In the land of the free and the home of the brave, perhaps no one is more brave than our veterans. Today, they're being honored in the annual Veterans Day Parade, that includes a 95-year-old Navy nurse and several Junior ROTC programs.
"How can you beat this? You've got a beautiful day, you've got hundreds of young people out here trying to show their respect to, not only the veterans, but to our nation and this great community," Lt. Col. Mike Coger said.
The parade is not the only way our community is showing its support to our military. Every Jiffy Lube location is offering free oil changes to veterans. The Patriot Blvd. location expected about 100 people to come through. About 90% were veterans.
"I've noticed, over the years, that more companies have been offering specials to veterans," Elicia Torres, U.S. Air Force Veteran said. "So, it just makes me feel kind of special."
The health of our veterans is also important. That's why free flu vaccines were available to them at the Veteran's Guest House.
"It's something that's pretty necessary, especially when you get to be about my age or older," Don Harmon, U.S. Air Force veteran said.
"Veterans have done so much for our community," Katie Nannini, Assistant Director of Immunize Nevada said. "It's very much the least we can do to offer a vaccine, today. So, we're really happy to be here."
You could find all walks of life at Texas Roadhouse, one of dozens of restaurants that offered free lunch for veterans.
"We've got people from World War II," John Morgan, Texas Roadhouse Managing Partner said. "We've got people from the Vietnam War. We've got current troops and they get to meet each other and get different stories going. So, it's kind of fun."
Faces in the crowd include a Navy veteran who served on D-Day, 70 years ago. Others returned home safely from southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Korea. Today belongs to them.
"It makes you feel good because 20 or 30 years ago, during Vietnam, this would never have happened," Greg Ellis, U.S. Army Veteran said. "So, whenever I see a Vietnam veteran, even though I was too young to go, I always thank them and welcome them home."
