By GINNIE GRAHAM News Columnist on Nov 12, 2012, at 9:24 AM Updated on 11/12 at 9:24 AM
GINNIE GRAHAM
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The best parade of the year is the Veterans Day parade, swinging through downtown Tulsa today starting at 11 a.m.
It’s the most heart-warming experience to see generations of soldiers living in our community getting well-deserved attention.
It’s a parade full of emotions packed with patriotism, sacrifice, history and appreciation.
This isn't Memorial Day, when we take time to honor veterans who have died.
Today is our chance to honor our military men and women while they are living - to tell them now how important they are to our continued freedoms.
While watching a Veterans Day parade, you will want to cheer and salute the service men and women walking, riding and waving to the crowds.
You want to shake the hands of those in uniform standing on the sidewalks.
You want to ask their stories and give your thanks.
For those of us with family members and friends in the military, this event is more personal.
My father-in-law only spoke of his service in the Marines toward the end of life, keeping private his role in the Korean War.
By contrast, I had a beloved great-uncle who told awe-inspiring stories of his World War II experiences, I now know were cleansed for young ears.
My stepfather’s brother struggled with mental health illnesses for decades after his return from three tours in the Vietnam War.
All are gone now, given a farewell with "Taps" and an American flag left to the family.
But while they were with us, for one day a year they were treated equally and with dignity in a community thank you with a Veterans Day celebration.
They ate free pancakes at various lodges or halls, went to a dance or two and they were given free admission to museums or movies.
There was always a parade.
It was a time to meet other veterans and soldiers and hear about what they saw and experienced.
The day is officially Armistice Day, or the end of War World I, believing at the time it was the end of the war to end all wars.
Sadly, that was not to be.
There are thousands of veterans, reservists and those on active duty who deserve our attention today.
In joining a loud chorus, I say thank you and hope as a country we can make sure to provide all you need upon your return.
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