Parade honors veterans' service
Brisk fall wind and a few raindrops didn't keep hundreds of people from gathering on Main Street for the annual Veterans Day parade Friday morning.
Sitting, standing, and leaning against buildings, people lined Main Street at 10:40 a.m. from Penn Street, where the parade began, to Diamond Park, where it ended, to watch the hourlong celebration.
The parade included fire trucks, bands and hundreds of veterans, marching and riding in Jeeps or on motorcycles.
Chuck Dufford, a veteran, said there were more than 200 veterans in the group he walked with.
It was the first time Dufford participated in the parade, but he and his wife, Linda, are annual attendees.
“Ever since I was a kid, I've always loved the parade,” said Linda Dufford, who was decked out in a red, white and blue sweater and scarf.
She and her husband, both Butler High School graduates, are huge fans of the school's band, traveling to New York City and other places to watch the students in parades, even though they have no children there.
But most importantly, the Veterans Day parade is a reminder for the couple.
“It's a reminder of ... all the people who have served,” said veteran Chuck Dufford.
Another paradegoer echoed that statement.
“It's about respect,” Jacob Tiffin said.
Because Tiffin's father and other relatives have served, Veterans Day is especially close to his heart. He and his wife, Tiffanni Tiffin, of Butler brought their three children — Daniel, Samantha and Britney — to the parade. While the youngest was asleep in a stroller, young Daniel and Britney each proudly waved flags.
“Thank you,” Daniel wanted to say to veterans everywhere.For veteran Thomas Myers of Natrona Heights, it was his first time at this parade. His friend, Dan Steffy, who also is a veteran, brought him along for the occasion.“You think about a lot of things, (especially) the men and women that died for our country,” Myers said.Mike Hibbs, a Vietnam War Veteran, explained that there were no parades when he returned from his four years of service as a Marine.“When we came back from Vietnam, nobody recognized us,” he said. “No parades. Nothing.”Now people thank him for his service, especially on Veterans Day.“It means a lot,” Hibbs said.The parade included several high school bands, Butler High School's ROTC program and Boy Scout troops.Near the beginning of the parade, all the noise on the street silenced for the 21-gun salute.
