Veterans Day

Editorial

I had the pleasure of attending the Central City Veterans Day parade yesterday. I have wanted to go for years but decided that with the weather being what it was, this was the time to go. When I got there the floats and bands were lined up in a six square block area, an unbelieveable amount of people, kids and floats, Boy Scout and Girl Scout Troops, 4-H clubs and of course the VFW and American Legion.

I couldn't find anyone in charge so the bike and I just lined up in front of a 1936 Chevy Firetruck and behind a group of queen cantidates of one variety or another. Not a lot of tractors, a few vintage cars, but mostly bands, drill teams, floats and civic groups.

I must have been about halfway in the lineup because as we passed the Hwy. 14 intersection I could see a lot of the parade ahead of me, and it stretched on for blocks. State Patrol, Sheriffs Deputys and Central City Police kept the traffic stopped on Hwy. 30 and all the intersections. The sidewalks were literally packed to standing room only. The parade route itself was close to a mile long and after I rode through I pulled around and parked by the theater to watch the rest. They just kept coming. Bands and drill teams, more fire trucks a few horses. It lasted just shy of an hour.

In speaking with a couple of residents after the parade I learned that every band and drill team in the county participated in the parade and few from Grand Island and outside the county. The Freedom Riders were there as well as the Patriot Guard and some CMA members. American flags predominated. It was an amazing display of patriotism close to home

If you ever take time off on Veterans Day, use it wisely and make the trip to Central City, it is well worth you time and effort and will give you the feeling that maybe all is not as bad as it seems, at least here in the heartland.

Admin.