By Greg Jordan, Bluefield Daily Telegraph
WELCH, W.Va. – Thousands of people lined the region’s streets Monday when Veterans Day parades – including the longest-running one in the nation – honored the sacrifices many made to defend their country and its freedoms.
Veterans Day parades in Welch, Princeton, Bluefield, Va. and other locations across the region brought together veterans and their families to celebrate all the contributions and sacrifices made in times of both war and peace.
The Welch Veterans Day Parade originally had around 40 units ranging from veterans organizations, high school and university marching bands, civic organizations, volunteer fire departments, local law enforcement agencies and others, but even more than anticipated showed up for the parade’s 106th edition. Organizers quickly added them to the parade’s lineup anyway.
The parade, organized by American Legion Post 8 with co-sponsorship from the city of Welch and under the leadership of Commander Jason Sorah and co-chairman Jim Spence, had the theme “Home of the Free because of the Brave.”
