Enlarge Eric Schultz Eric Schultz / The Huntsville Times -- Madeline Rath, 7, of Huntsville, holds a flag during the Veteran's day Parade Thursday, November 11, 2010 in downtown Huntsville, Ala. Veteran's Day Parade 2010 gallery (26 photos)
HUNTSVILLE, AL -- Three generations of one family stood on a curb along Monroe Street on Thursday morning, eager to wave their flags and give their thanks at the Veterans Day Parade.
Rachel Philyaw was there with her daughter, Lyn Watson. And Philyaw also had a handful of grandchildren.
"It really makes you feel like you are a part of the country," Philyaw said. "We all owe a debt to our country and to be patriotic."
That sentiment apparently spread throughout the Tennessee Valley as a huge crowd lined the streets of downtown Huntsville to pay tribute to veterans.
"This is the biggest crowd we've ever had," Mayor Tommy Battle told the crowd at the review stand on Monroe between Jefferson and Washington streets. "This is a super turnout for this community."
Retired Brig. Gen. Bob Drolet, the parade's chairman, said police told him the crowd along the parade route was estimated at more than 50,000. Huntsville police later said the crowd was estimated at 15,000.
Whatever the size of the crowd, Pam Harrison, another parade watcher said, "It's about time."
Harrison said she was talking to another woman at the parade who remembered when "just a handful" of people would attend. And for people like her brother, Vietnam veteran N.C. Gause, that wasn't much of an honor.
Philyaw's brother, Mark Pearson, also served in Vietnam. And her son-in-law, Chris, spend a tour of duty in Iraq in 2006. His 8-year-old son, Riley, was wearing an "Operation Iraqi Freedom" hat at the parade.
"We're just very thankful for what they've done," said Chris' wife, Lyn. "We want to show our gratitude and apreciation for what they've done. and their sacrtifice.
"They sacrifice time from their families, time from their jobs and they sacrificed their lives. We just want to show their appreciation for what they've done and for our freedoms."
A warm, sunny fall day no doubt lured people to the parade but it would have been a record-setter even in the rain. Drolet said 142 units lined up for the parade route, the most in the history of the event.
As he gushed about how Huntsville had embraced the parade and the sacrifices of those in uniform, saying the events here this week couldn't be matched "anywhere in this country," Drolet tried to restrain himself.
"If it's not the best community," Drolet said, "it's on a short list of one."
Boy scouts, marching bands and a long list of organizations that honor veterans made up the parade, which lasted more than two hours. There was also the final appearance of the 59th Ordnance from Redstone Arsenal, which is being relocated to Virginia.
As the biggest presence of uniform personnel in the parade, could the absence of the 59th Ordnance detract from future parades?
"I don't think so, no," said Joe Bongiovanni, who co-hosted the parade and chairman of the Semper Fi Community Task Force. "We'll make it up with something else.
"As you can see, there are a lot of willing participants. We'll get some of the other outfits. It won't take away. We don't want to see them go. Maybe we'll bring in in some more wounded veterans."
Indeed, Bongiovanni's group brought 33 Wounded Warriors to take part in the parade as part of a week's activities in the area. The Warriors traveled the parade route in Corvettes.
"Some of the Corvette owners were gracious enough to let the Marines and the soldiers drive their cars," Bongiovanni said. "Some let them drive with their wives so they really got to enjoy it. It was just wonderful to see their smile."
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