By Tara Thoel
Special to The State News
The contributions that veterans have made to the United States should be celebrated every day, said Capt. Jim Flowers from the Michigan Army National Guard at the Lansing Veterans Day Parade on Friday.
The parade, which began at Genesee Avenue and ended at Lenawee Street, was filled with people honoring all veterans who served in the armed forces. People attending the parade held signs saying "Thank You" and cheered as each group in the parade made its way down the street.
After the parade, a group of people congregated at Lansing City Hall to listen to Flowers' speech about Veterans Day. He said people shouldn't honor veterans one day, but everyday, because without them, the United States would not be the country it is today.
"Every man and woman who have ever gone into war or the armed forces is a true hero and patriot — they are the best of the best," Flowers said. "They give much and ask only that you are supporting them."
Many of the people who came to the parade said they came to honor the veterans' contributions to the United States.
"We do appreciate what the veterans have done," said Lansing resident Darla Jenks.Jenks and her husband have been coming to the parade for the last six or seven years. Both of their sons march in the parade as part of the Lansing Everett High School Marching Band.
Veterans Day was established in 1954 by Congress to remember all who served the United States.
"Remembering the sacrifices of a long generation of soldiers is the least we can do," said Lansing resident Jim Pahl, who marched in the parade with the Sons of Civil War Veterans.
The parade passed by a review stand located next to City Hall, which was occupied by veterans and committee members who helped put on the parade.
Some of the groups that participated in the parade in addition to the marching band were the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Auxiliary, the Eastern High School Marching Band and Purple Heart.
"I used to march in the parade in high school and I just got in a routine of coming out to the parade," said Lansing resident Warren Roost, who watched from the sidewalk by City Hall.
Coming out to the parade was only one way some people honored the veterans.
"I get together with the guys I served in Vietnam with every year. A bunch of us keep in touch," said Lansing resident Lewis Clark.
Lansing resident Penny Proctor said she puts the American flag up at her house and gives donations to veterans.
Many people in the parade and people who attended have had relatives or friends serve in the armed forces.
"I have 27 Civil War veterans in the family and I have been participating in the parade for at least 20 years," said Keith Harrison of Lansing.
Harrison is also part of the Sons of Civil War Veterans.
Another Sons of Civil War Veterans member, Ron Sahull, who served in the Vietnam War, said that he has a long line of veterans in his family, all the way back to the Revolutionary War.
