Parade salutes Lexington County veterans

The 24th annual Lexington County Veterans Day parade was held Sunday, Nov. 1, to honor the service and sacrifice of those who served in the United States Armed Forces.

The Veterans Day parade began at 3 p.m. on Main Street in downtown Lexington, with spectators waving American flags and wearing patriotic red, white and blue clothing to honor veterans’ lasting contributions to the community.

“For our veterans, this parade is about more than recognition. It’s a reminder that their service mattered, their sacrifices are remembered and their community is still standing behind them,” said Edward “Ed” Lundeen, Lexington County Veterans Affairs director. “When you see families lining Main Street, children waving flags and neighbors taking the time to say thank you, it means something. We want every veteran in Lexington County, no matter when or where they served, to know that this community is grateful for them.”

The parade was held 10 days in advance of the national Veterans Day holiday, which is observed on Nov. 11.

Participants included Lexington County-area veterans and active-duty military personnel, military organizations, local high school bands, community floats and civic groups.

Free patriotic posters were handed out to attendees prior to the parade to hold and show veterans appreciation, love and respect for their service.

“Bring a flag, bring the family and join Lexington County in saying thank you to the veterans who have served our nation and our community,” county officials said in a news release distributed ahead of the parade in early October.

Parade entries and floats lined up on Butler and Haygood streets before heading to Main Street. From there, participants traveled down Main Street, turned onto South Lake Drive and finished at the Lexington County Administration Building, 212 S. Lake Drive.