Parades Part Of Celebrations In Texas Marking Veterans Day
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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM/AP) — Parades, flowers and flags have been part of celebrations across Texas as thousands of people marked Veterans Day.
Wednesday was the anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I and also a day to honor all current and former veterans.
Gov. Greg Abbott thanked veterans, during a ceremony at the Texas Capitol, following a parade in downtown Austin.
Parades were also held here in Dallas and Fort Worth and down south in Houston. Check out photos from the one in downtown Fort Worth.
Many people went to one of several events planned across the Metroplex, including a big parade in downtown Dallas.
Parade organizers honored all veterans, but focused in on two people who fought in World War II. The parade's chairman said that those veterans are the greatest generation, because they literally saved the world. In addition to celebrating Veterans Day, this year's parade also commemorated the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II.
The day's events started with a military display at Dallas City Hall. Then, an oath of enlistment, where more than 150 men and women, representing all branches of the military, took their oaths. The annual parade started after that, and included a special wreath-laying ceremony and a missing man flyover.
These events closed some roads in downtown Dallas on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, over in Fort Worth, both Main Street and Houston Street were shut down for that city's Veterans Day parade.
The University of Texas at Arlington had a trumpeter start out the day, and its own wreath-laying ceremony. The campus then opened a new veterans lounge, followed by a 2:00 p.m. reception for veteran students and staff members.
Grand Prairie hosted a Veterans Day ceremony and free lunch at the city's veterans memorial.
A remembrance ceremony was held at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio. Some visitors also paid their respects at the graves of family and friends who served in the military.
The Texas Tech University Matador Singers will perform Thursday night in Lubbock at a free Veterans Day concert.
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