Veterans from wars past through present were joined downtown Saturday during the Veterans Day Parade by hundreds of supporters who cheered, waved flags, applauded and thanked them for serving their country.
Among those watching the parade was Karla Romero, 21, of Denver, who tightly hugged her boyfriend, Army Cpl. Napoleon Register, 24, of Denver.
Register, who was wearing his beige desert camouflage uniform with his beret, was wounded in Iraq by shrapnel to his face and lower back.
The parade is one of the last events the couple will share, because on Monday, Army Spec. Romero will be headed to Germany, then to either Iraq or Afghanistan.
“It’s my turn to go,” Romero said. “I’m nervous and sad.”
Unusually warm November temperatures greeted veterans and non-veterans alike, who brought portable chairs or who sat or stood curbside to watch the parade, which included the Veterans of Foreign Wars color guard, American Legion motorcycle riders, groups of classic cars, the El Jebel Rumble Bees, bagpipers, marching bands and an assortment of veterans organizations including the Mile High Chapter of the American Legion, Mountain States Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America and Denver Chapter 76 of the Women’s Army Corps.
Navy veteran Ralph Prieto was joined by his son, Tommy, 8.
“I love it,” Prieto said. “I always get a lump in my throat, and this day is as important as any other holiday.”
Parade crowds were thickest along Broadway and Colfax Avenue, but Dolores Quintana, 60, watched from a bus stop bench at 15th and Court streets. Since she was 7, Quintana has faithfully come out to watch the parade that is celebrated the Saturday before the official date, which is Nov. 11.
“There’s not as many people as there used to be,” Quintana noted.
Roland McCutcheon, 60, of Aurora served in Vietnam and is paralyzed from the waist down. He watched the parade with fellow veterans in wheelchairs.
Air National Guard Maj. Dominic Federico, whose unit is based in Cheyenne, smartly saluted each veteran who passed. Federico recently assisted with medical evacuations in Iraq and has witnessed death.
“I come here because we honor not only those who are here, but those who are not,” said Federico, who wore a camouflage uniform.
The parade was followed by the reading of 311 names of men and women killed in Iraq and Afghanistan who lived in Colorado or were stationed at Fort Carson. Some names were solemnly read aloud by families of those who died, including the parents of Blake Harris, Thomas Slocum and Danny Dietz. After all the names were read, a uniformed Marine played taps.
Annette Espinoza: 303-954-1655 or aespinoza@denverpost.com
Veterans Day Events
Veterans Day 2008 will be celebrated Tuesday. Here is a look at some of the closures and events you can expect.
Banks: Some closed. Call individual location for information.
RTD: Buses and light rail will run on a regular schedule.
Mail delivery: None.
Parking meters in Denver: Free Tuesday
Trash pickup: In Denver, trash pickup and recycling collection will be on a regular schedule. All suburban trash pickup is by private contractor. Contact individual provider for trash pickup information.
Courts: Courts and government offices will be closed Tuesday in Aurora and Durango and Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Jefferson and Larimer counties. Federal courts also will be closed.
SATURDAY
Gridiron salute: Veterans will be recognized in the stands during the University of Colorado vs. Iowa State football game.
In memorial: Join the Fairmount Heritage Foundation to place flags on veterans’ graves at the Fairmount Cemetery, 430 S. Quebec St. Meet at noon at the Gate Lodge. There also will be free military tours available. Info: 303-322-3895.
Denver parade: The 2008 Denver Veterans Day Parade will be at 10 a.m., with a tribute to immediately follow the parade in Civic Center. The grand marshal is Robert Hunter, president of the Denver United Veterans Council. The parade will start and end in Civic Center and will proceed down surrounding streets.
The post-parade tribute includes a reading of the Iraq/Afghanistan War Dead Honor Roll at the Colorado Veterans Monument.
Longmont parade: Longmont Veterans Day Parade, conducted by Longs Peak VFW No. 2601, will be at 11:11 a.m. and starts and ends at Roosevelt Park. Road closures for the parade will last from approximately 10 a.m. to noon. A dinner for veterans will be at 7 p.m. at Longs Peak VFW Post No. 2601, 206 S. Main St. Info: 303-776-8590.
SUNDAY
Restored monument: There will be a free rededication ceremony for the newly restored Wise Monument at 10 a.m. at Riverside Cemetery, 5201 Brighton Blvd., Denver. The rare “soldier monument,” a tribute to Denver’s Wise family, is a replica of William (Billy) Wise’s son George and has stood at Riverside since 1888.
TUESDAY
Fees waived: The Bureau of Land Management will waive recreation-related fees for veterans and military personnel, along with their families.
Choral salute: A Veterans Day ceremony will be at 11 a.m. at the Littleton World War II Memorial in Ketring Park, 6000 S. Gallup St. Littleton United Methodist Church Choir will perform.
Flag raising: Metropolitan State College of Denver is hosting a flag-raising ceremony at 11 a.m. at the flag pole at the center of the Auraria campus.
Airborne tribute: Red Rocks Community College is hosting a day-long celebration for Veterans Day, which will include a fly-over from the Colorado Air National Guard’s 120th Fighter Squadron from Buckley Air Force Base. The celebration begins at 9 a.m.
