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Veterans Day Parades Heavily Attended
Posted: Nov 6, 2010 6:29 AM by Jessica Roe
Updated: Nov 6, 2010 12:12 PM
The balmy weather Saturday brought out thousands of people along the streets of the Colorado Springs Veterans Day Parade to pay tribute to past and present members of the military.
Both the parade in Colorado Springs and the one in Pueblo started precisely at 10 a.m.
In Colorado Springs, people began arriving nearly two hours before the event started to get 
prime viewing areas along Tejon Street to view those participating in the parade whose theme this year was Veteran, Diverse and Determined.
With other Veterans parades around the country are shrinking in numbers, Southern Colorado's strong military presence helped to ensure this year's parades was well attended. In Colorado Springs, an entire non-profit organization coordinates the efforts leading up to the parade which costs approximately $35,000 to put on every year. The organzation behind the parade is run entirely on donations. You can find a link to the 501(c)(3) web site with details about the parade and the organization behind the efforts at www.csvetsparade.org. 
As expected, not only did many Veterans participate in the march, but so too, did Boy and Girl Scouts, marching bands and many floats.
By the numbers, there were approximately:
n 100 total entrants
n Representation from Fort Carson, Schriever, Peterson, Air Force Academy, Vets of Foreign War, Many more Veterans' societies
n Hundreds of individual veterans
n 5-6 floats
n More than a dozen high school and Junior ROTC marching bands
n 50-100 Boy and Girl Scouts
According to www.csvetsparade.org, "The Colorado Springs Veterans’ Day Parade is entirely funded through donations from local businesses and individual contributors." The site continues by stating, "The parade board does not receive any funding through any government agency and we do NOT charge veterans to participate; nor do we solicit funds from their organizations."
The parade in Pueblo also saw a hearty turnout beginning at Union Avenue and “B” Street with Lt. Colonel Edward St. Clair Ret. presiding over the ceremony as parade marshal.
According to the Chieftan's web site, "The Veteran’s Day Parade gives the community the opportunity to honor and say thank you to all of Pueblo’s military veterans." The site encourages the community each year to come out to the event. "Please join us as we pay tribute to Pueblo's veterans!"
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