Riverside Salutes Veterans
Thursday, Jan 7, 2010 | Updated 2:54 PM PDT
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Marching bands, floats, military hardware and a Medal of Honor recipient led the way through downtown Riverside on Saturday in the city's fourth annual "Salute to Veterans Parade."
"We liked the canine unit," said Nori Cartwright, 47, of Riverside. "The Riverside sheriff's unit. One of the deputies is our friend."
Alex Taylor, 20, and Stephanie Cartwright, 20, chimed in to say they also liked seeing vintage armored tanks in downtown Riverside.
"I'd never seen the old ones from World War II in person like that," Taylor said. "They seem like they haven't aged. Totally restored."
An aerial armada of prop-driven combat planes and helicopters also lumbered overhead, adding to the parade's cacophony downtown.
The two-hour event, this year themed "To Honor Veterans of All Ages & All Eras," began in front of Riverside Community College, 4800 Magnolia Ave. From there, the parade traveled a mile-long route along Market and 10th streets.
Young military families and disabled veterans in wheelchairs were among the hundreds of people who lined the parade route, some seeking shade in the rising heat, and others standing as close as they could to parade participants to smile, wave and shout.
One young Army veteran brought his wife and child. He wore a black Operation Iraqi Freedom cap, waved a small American flag and said he was enjoying the event, but he declined to give his name.
Lewis Millett, a retired U.S. Army colonel and Medal of Honor recipient, served as the grand marshal. The 88-year-old Riverside County resident was awarded the nation's highest honor for valor for his actions in the Korean War.
According to his citation, then-Capt. Millett led his platoon on a bayonet charge into an enemy stronghold during a battle to take a hill in February 1951 and, despite raking enemy gunfire, overwhelmed the communist combatants, causing them to "flee in wild disorder."
Joining Millett were several retired admirals and generals from the Inland Empire, according to organizers. Riverside County supervisors and city officials were also expected to be on hand.
Bands that joined the parade included Riverside's 97-member John W. North High School "Blue Star Regiment," which recently returned from China, where it gave several performances. The Marine Corps' 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing band, the Riverside Concert Band and UC Riverside's Pipe Band also took part.
