Media residents brave wet weather for annual Veterans Day parade
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Residents in one Delaware County town came out to pay their respects to veterans and active military members.
Media held its annual Veterans Day parade on Friday, where several groups, service members and their families came out to honor those who have served.
"It's wonderful to see now how we honor and respect our veterans," Ren Gilbert the daughter of a veteran, said.
The parade began at 11 a.m. outside the Media Theatre with motorcycles and the Penncrest High School marching band playing loudly for all to hear.
The parade will make its way to the county courthouse as the community gathers to cheer on those marching.
The mayor of Media and other veterans said the weather has affected the number of people coming out, but people still lined the sidewalks.
"We have all the elements here. The weather's not what we like, but everybody's here," Mayor Robert McMahon said. "All the bands are here, we've got seven bands. A lot of people speaking, short speeches. Anybody who's more than a minute is off."
The traditional parade here in Media goes back to the late 1950's and as always, the focus stayed on those who served, and the many who fought for our country like Vietnam veteran Ray Stankus.
"Regardless of what their job was, they're at risk and they should be honored for that service," Stankus said.
And once the parade made it through Front Street it stopped at the county's courthouse where a ceremony took place to recognize those who served.
"It's a day of remembrance for anybody who has sacrificed their time, sacrificed their lives, sacrificed family, friends, to give us the right to do what we do," Baker said.
As generations of veterans sang along to patriotic anthems some of the youngest of attendees proudly held onto a symbol of their freedom made possible because of their sacrifices.