Jesse Luna, a welder whose father Miguel served in World War II and Korea, has wanted to stand along the parade route and wave for veterans like his dad, but could never get away from work on weekday mornings. Now that he's out of work, he said told Unfair Park it occurred to him that Wednesday morning would finally be his chance. He rounded up his brother, Miguel Jr., and a large American flag, and took a spot along Main Street to cheer on the passing veterans.
Along with veterans in vintage race cars and active duty troops in Humvees, other beneficiaries of the adoring sidewalk crowd included high school marching bands and ROTC formations, cheerleaders and Captain, the Texas Rangers horse-headed mascot.
As in past years, the parade, organized by the
Dallas Veterans Day Parade Committee, began at Reunion Arena, wound around to Main Street up to Ervay Street, and back to City Hall for a presentation of colors. Dedicated parade-watchers and cotton candy vendors began filling in a little before 11 a.m. yesterday, half an hour before the first troops marched past, and as the hours rolled on the ranks swelled along the sidewalks with downtown workers ducking out of offices to watch the parade.
Jump for more shots of the parade, from the truck carrying Battle of the Bulge veterans to the high school ROTC corps and -- why not -- a few Dallas Stars cheerleaders on roller blades, who did their service passing out plastic hockey sticks.
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| Jesse Luna holds onto his flag before the parade Tuesday morning. |
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| Patrick Michels |
| Downtown Dallas came alive with music and flag-waving Tuesday, as crowds turned out to honor service members in the annual Veterans Day parade. |
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| Dallas Stars cheerleaders revv up the crowd with plastic hockey sticks. |
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| Linda Burnett, who served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War, watches a JROTC group march past on Ervay Street. |
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| McKenzie Emmons of Corinth plays with a flag, waiting for her father, James Noble Emmons, to march by in the parade. |
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| Photos by Patrick Michels |
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| The James Madison High School marching band strolls down Ervay Street. |
We've got more photos here in this slide show.
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