I spent Tuesday morning downtown for the Las Vegas Veterans Day Parade, the second-largest Veterans Day parade in the entire country – and this year looked like we’re vying for the top spot.
The parade was hosted again by Alan Stock, who has basically become the voice of Veterans Day in Las Vegas.
Stock anchored the program with the respect and energy the day deserved.
When Nevada honors its finest, he makes sure the spotlight stays where it belongs.
The Crowd, the Energy, the Entries… Everything Felt Bigger This Year
There were more than 150 entries – the most ever – and you could feel it.
Police and fire units, military vehicles, community groups, Gold Star families, JROTC units, the Raiderettes and Junior Raiderettes, the SASSY Seniors (who seem to have more energy than half of Clark County), and the best part of any parade: the marching bands.
The mix of old and new vehicles rolling down Fourth Street was full and diverse.
We had vintage and modern fire engines, gorgeous Corvettes from the Vet With Vettes group, and our new police Cybertrucks.
And speaking of those Cybertrucks, Las Vegas Metro Sheriff Kevin McMahill looks like a force to be reckoned with coming down 4th street with those things behind him.
LVMPD Sheriff Kevin McMahill leads two new police Cybertrucks down 4th Street during Las Vegas Veterans Day Parade
Who Was There
Up on the viewing stand and working the crowd were a lot of familiar faces, like Peter Guzman, George Harris, Jeff Gunter, and a handful of other notable Nevada figures who made it a point to show up and spend real time with veterans and their families.
You can always tell who’s there for the cameras and who’s there because they actually care.
Standing downtown, with little kids waving flags and yelling “Thank you for your service!”, seeing veterans saluting each other, and the whole city slowing down for a couple hours – that helps you remember what the day is all about.
If you weren’t there, you missed something special.
If you were, you know exactly what I mean.
Float replicating Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Las Vegas Veterans Day Parade
