Parker County residents gave a warm patriotic welcome to veterans and others who marched, rode and drove in the Parker County Veterans Day Parade Saturday, waving American flags and clapping as 50-plus entries took command of South Main Street in Weatherford.
F-18s scheduled to kick off the event were grounded, but a low-flying huey helicopter, rotors beating the air like a drum, captured the smiles and attention of entries setting out on the parade route after a brief program at Weatherford ISD’s Roo Stadium.
Guest speakers at the 9:45 a.m. program included State Representative Phil King, Captain Mark White of the Texas Army National Guard and retired United States Air Force Colonel Mo Baker, who served as Grand Marshal.
John Hale, Parker County Veterans Service Officer, recognized veterans on behalf of the commissioners court; Weatherford Mayor Dennis Hooks and City Council member Craig Swancy spoke on behalf of the City of Weatherford.
Baker, a former jet fighter pilot who has logged more than 6,500 hours flying military and civilian aircraft, also applauded those involved in current military service, hailing them as an elite group of “warriors.”
“Did you know that only 6 percent of Americans have ever been in the service,” he said, “and less than 1 percent have ever served on active duty.”
White talked about bringing three buses full of soldiers home to a cheering crowd after a stint in Iraq.
“I was able to take 18- and 19-year-olds that were wet behind the ears and bring them back grizzled and full of sand,” he said proudly.
The parade and program were organized by Parker County American Legion Post No. 163, with opening remarks by Commander Ron Chandler. Bill Mallory, the post’s first vice commander, called out parade entries as they passed the review stand in the stadium parking lot.
Veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq and the Persian Gulf rode in special cars at the parade’s front, with one car designated for purple heart recipients.
Some other entries included members of the Texas State Guard, a float representing Parker County Republican Women, the Weatherford High School Blue Belles and Marching Band and at least a dozen shiny classic cars.
Several tractors brought up the rear, along with a horse-drawn cart from Dillard Feed & Seed and a mounted Parker County Sheriff’s Posse, 16-strong.
The final entry was a white riderless horse representing all the fallen veterans, which was led out to “Taps” played on a bugle.
Adam Enslow, a 7-year-old Tiger Cub from Cub Scout Pack 270, knew exactly why he was riding on a float in Saturday’s parade.
“We’re honoring the veterans,” he said. “They served the military, and they served the Army, too.”
Sydney Howell rode in a parade car both to recognize veterans and to promote Meals-on-Wheels as Ms. Senior Parker County. Her driver and husband, Daniel, flew 60 combat missions in B52s, dropping more than five million pounds of bombs on Southeast Asia.
“It saved an awful lot of GIs,” he said. “It prevented them from killing us.”
Terri Edwards, owner of a Weatherford business called Hearing Aid Boutique, thought of a different way to laud local veterans.
“I just came out to say ‘thank you’ to them for their service and give them coffee and doughnuts,” she said. “I decided not to do a float, but I still wanted to honor them.”
