Mesa, AZ - Thank you, Veterans

Here it is Veterans Day and there’s nothing I like better than a good local parade with all the bands, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and HS ROTC units, historical military equipment, community churches and other organizations and - ta da - a B-17 military flyover. Can you beat all that? Nope. And, that’s why we were in Mesa for the Veterans Day parade last year and why we’re here this year.

But, most of all it’s a chance to honor those veterans who have fought and died for our freedoms. When they say that freedom is not free, they are absolutely correct. Unfortunately we depend upon a small cadre of warriors today who serve 5 and even 6 tours of duty. But, enough of politics.

We came with some friends, Shirley and Jerry, found a place near the curb, set up our chairs and got ready to enjoy, clap in appreciation and stand in honor.

Veterans day began in 1954 when President Eisenhower called upon all of our citizens to observe November 11th as Veterans Day and asked all Americans to will join hands to insure proper and widespread observance of this day. And every President since has honored our Veterans this way.

There were the usual dance clubs strutting their stuff, school groups, kids on bikes, third graders who had made ‘thank-you’ cards for vets in the audience (Gary got one) and many other local community groups.

However, the most poignant groups were the local high school ROTC’s with their members marching and carrying a banner with the picture of an Arizonan killed during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Everyone stood as these groups marched by and they marched by for a while, unfortunately.

Fine parade and we’ll come if we’re in the area next year.