Armed Forces Day not only brought out crowds of people along Walnut Street, but also the parade was teeming with veterans who acknowledged the sacrifice of the soldiers past and present.
Joe Mansfield, commissioner of the Delaware County United Veterans Council, said the third Armed Forces Day Parade was a great way to pay respect and show thanks to veterans. The parade had been held Memorial Day during previous years but was changed because the crowd that came to see the parade was small.
Mansfield said without veterans protecting their freedoms abroad, Ball State University students wouldn't be able to study the subjects that interested them at home.
"We served our country for a purpose," Mansfield said.
Mansfield served in Europe on border patrol from 1958 to 1962.
Veterans from the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, 40 and 8, Rolling Thunder and the Marine Corp. League all participated in the parade, he said.
Charles Fyffe, member of the Delaware County Honor Guard, said the parade was a great way to pay respect to those who served their country in the military.
"We can never repay those who fought, he said.
Stationed in Korea 16 months, Fyffe said he never saw combat. He said he was sad to see not many people come and support veterans because they enable people to be free. He said the Honor Guard worked at several events, and not enough people come to show their gratitude.
Golden Gragg, of Delaware County Honor Guard, said he enjoyed being in his third parade because it gave him a chance to see his old friends. The Vietnam veteran said he felt honored to be in the parade and to show respect to those who still serve.
Jerry Griffis, Delaware County service officer for veteran affairs, said he enjoyed helping the approximately 10,000 veterans in Delaware County get their benefits and enjoyed talking to the different generations of veterans.
"Vets liked to be recognized," he said.
Leading the parade were the Sons of the American Revolution, a group of re-enactors who dress like soldiers from the American Revolution. Fully equipped with authentic clothes, they marched down Walnut Street leading fire engines, trailers and cars.
Jack Carmichael, a member since 1963, said although people in the group were not veterans, the members of the group were related to those who participated in the revolution.
Marching in the parade was a way for them to show respect for veterans, he said, from the present and the past.
Carmichael said in past events, members from the local Sons of the American Revolution chapter had shaken hands with and thanked veterans at past events, and the veterans were surprised because they were not thanked enough.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
