Sailors, active and retired throughout the Pacific Northwest received cheers and fanfare from more than 10,000 spectators during a Veterans Day parade in Auburn, Wash. Nov. 10.
The parade, dubbed by city officials as the largest Veterans Day parade of its kind west of the Mississippi, featured a variety of Naval and veteran organizations including Naval Sea Cadets, swift boats, ROTC students, submarines, and active duty Sailors.
Students from Naval Base Kitsap Trident Training Facility (TRITRAFAC), Bangor, teamed up with veterans from local chapters of the United States Submarine Veterans Association, and provided a slice of silent service Navy pride.
The students are recent graduates from the TRITRAFAC Electronics Technician apprentice school. Throughout their studies, submarine veterans visited their classes and provided history lessons into the silent service, which is a term used to describe military service aboard a submarine. In return, the students felt a desire to be part of the sub vets’ presence at this year’s parade.
“They showed us respect about the sub force and our future,” said Electronics Technician Seaman Tom Gibbons, “We wanted to return the favor.”
Sixteen students with their instructors, escorted the sub vets’ two floats, and provided rifle drill exhibitions throughout the downtown parade route.
“I felt a lot of pride for my country wearing this uniform,” said Electronics Technician Seaman Greyson Anderson. “I never felt better.”
Chief Electronics Technician Gary Dillard, TRITRAFAC instructor, agreed with Anderson, “I look forward to these opportunities. Any time I can get out and be part of our heritage is awesome” he said.
Even with the threat of heavy rains, thousands of spectators showed their support to veterans representing Navy, Marines, Army, Air Force, and Coast Guard past and present, throughout the two-hour parade.
In addition to TRITRAFAC students and submarine veterans, Naval Sea Cadets also participated.
“It’s good to be here today,” said Seaman Apprentice Brandon Richison, a cadet with the United States Naval Sea Cadets Corps, Hornet Division, Tacoma, Wash. “It gives me a sense of pride to be with the Sea Cadets here on Veterans Day.”
DoD and the National Veterans Day committee selected Auburn as one of the regional sites for Veterans Day Observance in 2007. This year marks the 42nd anniversary of the parade featuring almost 200 military bands, honor guards, and marching units.
Ted Taylor, a retired submarine Senior Chief Petty Officer Electronics Technician summed up his experience at the parade, “This was a well attended parade showing a lot of support for the troops. Auburn is a great place to celebrate Veterans Day.”