Monday morning saw Broad Street teeming with onlookers for the annual CSRA Veterans Day Parade, which began at the corner of 13th and Greene Street.
American flags waved from classic cars and Jeeps, soldiers marched while singing marching songs and appearances were made by groups like Kappa Lambda Chi Military Fraternity Inc. and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Marvel Superhero Captain America even made a cameo for the celebration.
Local high school marching bands also participated in the festivities, bringing a touch of music to the patriotic event.
The future of the military
Connie Bungy said that one of her favorite parts of the parade is watching new generations of soldiers pass by.
“For me, it’s seeing the younger soldiers, knowing that they’re our future.
Bungy – an Army veteran with a disabled veteran husband who appeared in the parade – watched it unfold from Metro Pub and Coffeehouse’s outdoor seating.
“I appreciate all of the service members and their sacrifices for our country,” she said, noting that she believes it’s important to recognize “where we would be without them.”
“We’ve got to support our military,” she added.
Honoring sacrifices
Candy Padgett, also a wife of a veteran, said that she’s been attending the parade in Augusta for about a decade.
“They’ve given a lot of their time, [their] body party, their lives,” she said. “The least we can do is come out and celebrate them.”
Reunited with fellow servicemembers
Also watching from the sidelines was Ulysses Mays, an Army veteran who said he served for “30 years, 20 days and 10 ½ hours.”
He added that he has been stationed in Germany, Turkey, Belgium, Korea and Africa, as well as Army installations in Georgia, Texas and Kansas.
He said that he also served at the White House.
“I’ve been around the world,” he said.
Mays spent much of his time at the parade waving at others walking by who he recognized, and even occasionally going into the road to shake hands with people he had previously served with.
“It’s like a family reunion for us,” he said of the parade. “It’s great to see people you haven’t seen in years.”
More Veterans Day events in Augusta
Other events on Monday included a Veterans Day service at Wade Hampton Veterans Park in North Augusta and an afternoon Veterans Day celebration at the Grover C. Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre.
