Veterans Recognized, Honored At City Events
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - American paused Friday to honor and thank all who served in the United States Armed Forces.
A number of Veterans Day events were held across South Florida to show our appreciation.
At a Lauderdale by the Sea event William Brown stood proud. The 96-year-old served in World War II in the South Pacific. While serving he was shot. His family didn't know until his son requested his medals. While Brown is very humble about his service, his son is proud to tell his story.
"Well, our country called and we went," said Brown. "I'm glad I served."
"He was in a battle. When there's a battle going on the medics are allowed to retreat but he refused," said Brown's son Mark. "He insisted on staying up at the front lines to help the wounded soldiers and in the course of doing that he was shot."
Brown received a Bronze Star for his heroic service.
In Doral, people lined the streets to watch the parade which ended at Veterans Park on NW 33rd Street.
"Seeing what people do for us, the soldiers and to see how they take care of us, that appreciation," said Javier Rios who serves in the Army.
"My father is a veteran. My brother is a vet, my sister and many of my family members are all veterans who have served in the military," said Claudia Ramos-Soto. "So this is just a representation of them and honoring them."
Ramos-Soto added that it's not only important to show up and recognize our veterans, it's also important to bring children along to the veterans events to teach them about the significance of their contributions.
"What I know about Veterans Day is that you have to honor the people that served our country and to make it great," said 10-year-old Tayler Hylton.
On Miami Beach, the city also held a Veterans Day parade. It traveled along Ocean Drive ended at the Flamingo Park Baseball Stadium, at 1435 Michigan Avenue, where a brief ceremony was followed by a picnic which included a demonstration from the All-Veterans Parachute Team.
In North Miami, a Veterans Day ceremony was held at the North Miami Veterans Memorial at Griffing Park. U.S. Marine Corps Colonel William J. Truax, Jr., of the United States Southern Command, was the keynote speaker.
In Ft. Lauderdale, a Veterans Day ceremony was held at the Sandy Nininger Statue, located on the Riverwalk next to the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.