Veterans Day Parade Grand Marshall Anthony ‘Tony’ Santos shakes hands with Keynote Speaker Glenn Galman.
United States Air Force Retired Chief Jose Ybarra shakes hands with Merced County Supervisor Lloyd Perriea.
United States Air Force Retired Chief Jose Ybarra, United States Army CPL Anthony ‘Tony’ Santos, and United States Army SPC Armando Granado stand alongside dignitaries.
Hundreds of residents lined Main Street for this years Veterans Day Parade.
The Merced Fire Department and city leaders wave to residents lining Main Street.
Young residents throughout the celebration had flags in hand as they celebrated Veterans Day in Downtown Merced.
A military aircraft makes a low pass along Main Street.
Local Boy Scouts thank veterans for their service during Saturday’s parade.
A number of historical vehicles, both military and civilian, highlighted the parade.
A young patriot waves a flag as she celebrates Veterans Day.
Flags lined Main Street through out the parade route and they were also handed out by participants along the way.
The Merced County Sheriff’s Posse rides through the parade route on horseback.
Miss Merced County and Miss Yosemite Valley were present for Saturday’s festivity.
The Merced County Sheriffs showed up to the parade in force with their rescue vehicle.
Residents face the flag as the National Anthem is sung at Bob Hart Square .
Hundreds of residents from across the county lined Main Street in Merced on a sunny Saturday afternoon to celebrate Veterans Day with a hometown parade.
The festivities kicked off at Bob Hart Square with a special ceremony led by local, state and federal representatives to honor those who have served. They gave special recognition to this year’s Grand Marshals: United States Army CPL Anthony “Tony” Santos, United States Army SPC Armando Granado, and United States Air Force Retired Chief Jose Ybarra.
Interim Merced County Veterans Services Officer John Cox thanked residents and dignitaries for their attendance. Following the posting of colors by the Los Banos Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion Color Guard, the National Anthem was performed by Wil Wholtman. Senior pastor at Yosemite Church, Jeff Leis, was then invited to the podium to conduct a benediction.
Local dignitaries at the event included Congressman John Duarte, Assemblywoman Esmeralda Soria, Senator Anna Caballero’s office representative, and the entire board of County Supervisors: Scott Silveira, Daron McDaniel, Lloyd Pareira, Rodrigo Espinoza and Josh Pedrozo.
Merced County veteran and keynote speaker Glenn Galman spoke about the significance of Veterans Day.
Following the ceremony, all eyes were on Main Street as dozens of local organizations, motorcycle clubs, floats, and bands made their way through the parade route. Residents cheered them on with flags in hand as patriotic music provided by the Merced College Concert Band filled the air.
Over the course of the next hour residents celebrated the freedoms afforded to them, those who have fought for them, and honored the veteran community as a whole until the parade concluded with a show of vehicles from local law enforcement organizations.