Veterans Parade Marches Through Brooksville

BROOKSVILLE - The marching bands led a red, white and blue caravan that snaked through downtown Saturday morning to honor the area's military veterans.

Each year, the city holds a Veterans Appreciation Parade that loops from City Hall and continues along the main roads of Brooksville - Main, Broad and Jefferson streets.

Several veterans stood and watched. Many of them stood out from the crowd because they wore their American Legion or VFW caps.

"I wish we had a bigger turnout and a larger participation," said John Hilliard, a U.S. Army veteran who served in the Vietnam War.

Seconds later, he waved to one of the passing military jeeps. He wore sunglasses, but it was still evident how emotional the day was for him.

"They're giving thanks to everyone and what they've done before us," Hilliard said.

This year's entries included JROTC units from Springstead, Central and Hernando high schools, as well as the Hernando County Sheriff's Honor Guard, Brooksville and Hernando County police and fire units and representatives from various local veterans groups.

There were military jeeps, motorcycles and convertibles.

"It's pretty neat. I really like it," said U.S. Air Force and Korean War veteran Robert Kerr. "I think something like this is really important. I wish they had it in Spring Hill."

The parade is smaller in scale than the Christmas Parade. It took less than 15 minutes for all of the marchers to cross the intersection of Broad and Main streets, but several people walked down a couple blocks to watch it pass again.

One of those mobile spectators was Jerry Horning.

"I came because I'm an ex-Marine ... and I'm an American," he said.

Horning, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1955 to 1959, thinks Hernando County does a lot to serve and recognize military veterans.

"I think they've done pretty well with that," he said.

This year, the Hernando County Fine Arts Council was the underwriter for the liability insurance for the event. Otherwise, it would not have been held.

Donations were down this year, but participation exceeded levels from past parades.

Veterans Day is Tuesday, Nov. 11.