Veterans Day parade to feature 5,000 participants
The largest Veterans Day parade in the West will roll down Fourth Street on Sunday.
Many of the 5,000 participants will be pounding the pavement in step, like the marching bands, the 14 Junior ROTC cadet platoons and the Green Berets of the Special Forces Association Chapter 51.
And there will be plenty of military vehicles and emergency response trucks for the 30,000 spectators to see when the parade starts at 10 a.m. at Fourth and Gass streets.
This year's parade, organized by VFW Post 1753 and led by Bill Stojack, has more than 120 entries and is a salute to wounded warriors from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and all veterans.
"Basically we're trying to say 'welcome home' to these new kids, but it's for all veterans," said Post Commander Leonard Wenson, the parade's vice chairman.
"To me it's about giving back. Doing things for veterans brings back a lot of memories," said Wenson, a Vietnam War veteran who served in Vietnam's central highlands with the 173rd Airborne Brigade.
Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman and wounded warriors from Camp Pendelton, Calif., and those who are guests of MGM Resorts International will lead the parade.
Contact reporter Keith Rogers at krogers@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0308.
