About This Site

City Government

Departments

Requested Information

Home

Feature Story:

2010 Veterans Day Parade

[Photo right- Mayor Harvey L. Hall waves to crowd]

Photos of Veterans Day Parade

People gathered all over the country and here locally Thursday to honor veterans for their service. Thousands attended the 91 st annual Veterans Day Parade in downtown Bakersfield. “ Freedom is not free. It's something to give back and preserve our culture and democracy and stuff like that, so that's why I served,” said Joe Cruz, an army veteran. I saw veterans that served before me and I knew at some point I would have to step up and I'd be in their shoes,” said Staff Sgt. Daniel Bonillo. He is a green beret in the Army and was the king in Thursday's parade. It was something I had always wanted to do ever since the first parade I went to when I was a kid,” said Lester Aterburn, a Navy veteran. Many civilians at the parade said they can never thank those who served our country enough. But to try and show their appreciation, thousands lined the streets for the annual parade. “To show our support is just a little bit, we can do on our part,” said Lupe Allejandro. I like the military because they protect us in the whole wide world,” said Caleb Branch who was there with his grandma and aunt.

While bands marched to a patriotic beat, Bonillo waved to the crowd and saluted his fellow veterans from his parade car. “This is not anything I expected. I grew up here, he said. But this is my job, this is what I do and it's great to be recognized for it. The parade was a celebration of our veterans who served and made it home safely, and of course, those who did not.

The memory of those veterans who gave all brought tears to their family members' eyes. With 153 floats and 28 bands marching, coordinators say this was the largest Veterans Day parade they've ever seen, and that's a testament to Kern County's patriotic spirit.
[Source http://www.msnbc.msn.com/]

Back to City Highlights