Hundreds of people from the Cortez area lined Montezuma Avenue on Friday to show support for veterans.
The Veterans Day parade featured school marching bands, horses, military groups in uniform and forests of American flags. A warm, sunny afternoon brought out a big crowd of area residents who showed their enthusiasm by waving flags and cheering throughout the half-hour procession. This was the largest of several events held throughout Montezuma County on Friday to honor veterans.
Don Swank, a Vietnam veteran who has been part of the honor guard in the parade since it started 10 years ago, said he was pleased with this year’s turnout.
“It was beautiful weather,” he said. “We couldn’t have asked for anything better.”
A float created by the Ute Mountain Ute tribe led the parade, with Miss Ute Mountain Talia Whyte in the place of honor. American Legion Post 75, the local VFW and DAV chapters and several other veterans groups made appearances. Greg Kemp, who has not served in the military, showed his support by marching in the parade wearing a uniform from the American Revolution and waving a Betsy Ross flag with 13 stars. He noted that his costume was “a little anachronistic” since he was wearing modern boots and sunglasses, but he said he wanted to pay respect to an earlier period in the American military.
“I’m not sure they teach a lot of history in schools these days, and I know there will be a lot of kids here today,” he said just before the parade. “I want to inspire them to ask some questions.”
Fourth- and fifth-grade students from Mesa Elementary School, as well as students from other nearby schools, lined Montezuma Avenue, waving flags and chanting “USA!” One Mesa teacher, Jessica Miller, said the parade is an important part of their school’s Veterans Day program. The students also made thank-you cards for veterans, read poems like “In Flanders Fields” and watched videos about various wars in which the U.S. has been involved. Some students waved hand-drawn signs during the parade with messages like “Thank you, veterans.”
“It’s about getting them to understand what a veteran is, and why they’re important,” Miller said.
Many local students participated in the parade, including marching bands from Montezuma-Cortez school district. A contingent of police and sheriff’s vehicles brought up the rear.
Earlier in the day, the American Legion held a breakfast and fundraiser for veterans at their hall in Cortez. The Elks Lodge also offered a free lunch to military families, and Dolores High School held a Veterans Day ceremony in the morning.