Las Vegas’ Veterans Day parade celebrates military service
Spraying a final coat of color and placing last-minute parts together, Vietnam War veteran Robert Kotchkowski and his team prepared their float for the yearly Veterans Day parade.
Supported by the Las Vegas Region Porsche Club of America, their papier-mâché eagle stood more than 10 feet high and had wings and a head that moved in the breeze. A side banner read, "Defending Freedom with Spirit."
"I am the chairman for the Vietnam Veterans of America, and this is my 11th parade making a float," Kotchkowski said. "I feel we have to keep the patriotic spirit alive."
The parade marched down Fourth Street on Sunday, celebrating military veterans and those on active and reserve duty. Organized by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1753 and chairman Bill Stojack, about 4,000 participants from 114 entries walked from Gass Avenue to Stewart Avenue.
Army veteran Rachel Degelbeck showed her support by walking in the parade in full uniform. She was stationed in South Korea and Louisiana but wasn’t deployed to the Middle East.
"Veterans Day is just a good day to remember what people have done for you," Degelbeck said. "It’s a day of remembrance."
Participants included marching bands, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Junior ROTC cadet platoons and even floats from California and Arizona.
"Every year we have more and more entries from California and Arizona," Stojack said. "It’s because their communities don’t recognize Veterans Day as more than just a three-day weekend, so they come out to Las Vegas to celebrate."
More than 20,000 spectators waved flags and voiced their support from the sidewalks, including 4-year-old Marissa Heismer.
"Thank you for all your help," she yelled to participants. "Thank you. We love you."
Stojack expressed his excitement about the turnout by calling it one of the best parades they’ve ever had.
"It was truly amazing," he said. "We couldn’t have done it without the city and county and all the community’s support. It was excellent."
Pictures of the parade taken by VFW Post 1753 will be posted within the next week at www.veteransparadeLV.com.
