Shortly before Saturday’s Memorial Day parade began a brief shower passed through the area, making the already cool conditions difficult for veterans, families and children to brave the weather and celebrate the holiday.

But not everyone thought the weather was a foe in bringing people out to watch the colorful floats and marching music.

David Jones, a drum major for the Everett High School Marching Band, said the cold temperatures were not the main problem.

“It wasn’t too cold,” the 16-year-old said, “but at the beginning it started to rain.”

Jones also said there were fewer people in the crowd this year.

Still, an estimated 300 people came to wave and cheer for the bands and local veterans as they marched south along Capitol Avenue.

People covered with blankets sat along the sidewalks cheering and clapping.

Others even waited on putting their winter coats in the closet for the season.

To keep warm, some of the attendees were drinking hot cocoa during the parade.

But the cold weather didn’t stop young children from stepping out into the street to get a glimpse of the approaching floats and area school marching bands.

A group of residents were even too cold to walk amongst the crowd and pass out American flags.

Instead the four sat on trailer on the back of a truck allowing passers-by to grab one at their leisure.

Even if the weather felt more like March than May, some residents were happy to celebrate their patriotism.

Debbie Athy, a Lansing resident, said she was there to see her daughter in the parade.

“It’s a nice show of patriotism,” she said, “and I have a kid in the band, so I’m here to support her, too.”

The parade featured several marching bands from Lansing schools, including Eastern High School and Dwight Rich Middle School.

Other groups like the Military Order of the Purple Heart’s 37th Chapter and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 701 also participated.

Many of the veterans groups held the American flag and the Michigan flag in honor of the occasion.

Mayor David Hollister said the weather hasn’t helped attendance at local parades.

Hollister braved the cold conditions in just his suit.

“I think it’s unfortunate that more people aren’t interested,” Hollister said. “Parades just aren’t as big a draw as they used to be.

“People just have too many alternatives.”

But Hollister said the people who braved the weather Saturday are the ones who come every year.

“These are hard-core patriots,” he said.