Thousands show support at Veterans Day parade

Thousands of people gathered Thursday in downtown Las Vegas to honor veterans of America's armed forces, and at one point or another all of them were looking at Jack Schofield.

The World War II veteran and former legislator had donned his old uniform, which he first wore June 27, 1944, to march -- alone -- in the lengthy parade.

"Most of the members of my group are dying out," he said at the end of the route. "I wanted to make sure we had representation.

"It's very important to me. I appreciate very much the people remembering and being grateful. They say, 'Thank you.' I say, 'No, thank you. For remembering us.' "

Organizers expected 40,000 people to line Fourth Street to see the parade, which had 120 entrants and more than 5,000 military veterans.

"Ladies and gentlemen, these are America's heroes!" said parade emcee Alan Stock of radio station KXNT-FM. "That sound you hear is the sound of freedom!"

Actually, it was the sound of row after row of Harley-Davidson motorcycles streaming past, ridden by leather- and bandana-clad veterans.

Following them were veterans and supporters using seemingly every mode of transportation available -- convertibles, tanks, military trucks, restored military vehicles, horses, wheelchairs and, of course, more motorcycles.

For uniqueness, though, nothing matched what Steve Darnell of Welderup brought.

His company specializes in using found and recycled parts to make custom vehicles. In this case, the bodies from a 1928 Dodge sedan and a 1932 Ford pickup had been lowered to inches off the ground and given oversized tires and huge diesel engines.

Darnell is working on a military version of his creations using a 1937 Dodge pickup that will have military-issue tires and a .50-caliber machine gun mounted on top. When it's finished, he plans to auction it off, with proceeds donated to the group that's planning to build a veterans memorial in Huntridge Circle Park.

Both of Darnell's grandfathers served in World War II, one in the Navy, one as an Army Ranger. Combat took its toll on both of them, he said, and the one who is still alive -- a former Naval gunman in the Japanese theater -- still struggles.

"I look at my old grandpa -- not only did he fight the war, now he's fighting it again, in his head," Darnell said. "Every morning he wakes up from a dream."

Many veterans do need help, which is why Pearl Peterson from Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10047 was collecting for a relief fund.

She was selling small plastic red poppies and noting the dedication of her husband, Richard. His health didn't allow him to attend the parade, but he had a 30-year Army career that included service in World War II, Korea and Vietnam.

"Actually, it was 29 years, six months and a day," she added.

Veterans Day "is very important," she said. "People are so generous and very kind.

"It means so many different things to so many different people. I'm thankful that my husband came out of the war alive, and healthy."

Contact reporter Alan Choate at achoate@reviewjournal.com or 702-229-6435.