'Honoring all who served': Parade pays tribute to Lubbock's veterans

Lubbockites gathered Saturday morning to travel along Broadway in a display of patriotism and honor celebrating Veterans Day as well as Military Family Appreciation Month in November.

Lubbock's 6th Annual Veterans Day Parade came ahead of the Veterans Day holiday on Thursday.

"Annually, a collective effort of community groups engages as many veteran advocates as well as veterans," Christy Martinez-Garcia, chair of the parade committee and President of the Los Hermanos Familia non-profit organization, said in a statement.

"These men and women have served our country with dedication and courage, and for that we are proud to hold this parade in their honor, making it a growing tradition in Lubbock honoring our veterans."

The 2021 theme was "Honoring All Who Served," which Martinez-Garcia emphasized means that every man and woman from every background and serving in every branch of the military is worthy of being recognized for their service.

"We must never forget the service of these brave Americans who served and fought to keep this country free and safe," she said.

This year's Grand Marshalls were a posthumous honor to Wayne Chase Panter, who was a World War II veteran who showed selfless service abroad and in his own community.

In addition, the Lubbock County Sheriff's Office presented the colors during Saturday's event.

Lubbock Fire Rescue vehicles crossed ladders to form a bridge hanging the American flag that participants drove under.

The parade started at the east parking lot of First Baptist Church at Broadway and traveled along Broadway to the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center.

©2021 www.lubbockonline.com. Visit lubbockonline.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.