Hundreds gathered Thursday in downtown Durango to thank veterans for their service, with 25 different groups participating in the annual Veterans Day Parade on Main Avenue.
For 22 years, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4031 has hosted the parade in downtown Durango.
“I’ve got the VFW float, the Southern Ute Veterans Council, Disabled American Veterans and the Durango Veterans Club,” said Terry Saxon, parade organizer with the VFW. “I’ve got 25 entries, and a lot of these are multiple people.”
Saxon is a U.S. Army veteran who fought in the Vietnam War and has organized the parade for the past 22 years.
“Always honor your veterans, because they did serve our country,” Saxon said. “To those that served, we say thank you.”
Saxon said Veterans Day is an opportunity to teach children.
“Part of this celebration is for the veterans, but half of it is to educate the youth of America as to how freedom happens, and how it’s preserved,” Saxon said. “I think there’s a history lesson there.”
Jeff Punches, the VFW webmaster, helped direct traffic for the parade. Punches was a Navy pilot during the Vietnam War, and he said Veterans Day is an important time to remember that people who serve are putting their lives at risk for their country.
“They’ve served their country at the risk of their lives, particularly those who served in combat,” he said.
The parade route started at College Drive and moved north on Main Avenue to Buckley Park at 12th Street.
Jacob Archuleta said he was proud to watch the parade, as he and many members of his family are veterans.
“It’s so important to come out and support, because I’m a veteran, my son’s a veteran and my grandson’s a veteran,” he said. “My whole family has had someone in the military for the past 100-and-some-odd years.”
Families who attended the parade said it is important to honor veterans, and to make children understand the meaning and importance behind the holiday.
“The kids need to know that these veterans fought for our freedoms,” Scott Thompson said.
One parent, Brandon Farley, said he brought his kids to honor veterans who have died so they can understand the sacrifices made to preserve the rights and freedoms afforded to U.S. citizens.
“To me it means freedom of choice, freedom of belief and freedom to raise our kids in such a beautiful place,” Farley said. “A place where they can grow up and enjoy all the same liberties and freedoms that we have.”
Darcy Denegre said it is meaningful to attend the annual parade and see those who served in the military.
“Every time I come to the parade, it makes me cry thinking about all these people, and what they’ve done, and what they’ve been willing to do for us,” Denegre said. “It really does make a difference to see.”
Unlike most events, COVID-19 couldn’t stop the Veterans Day Parade in 2020. While the sidewalks weren’t lined with residents to celebrate, Saxon was able to organize a convoy of vehicles on Main Avenue.
“I had 42 decorated cars and trucks, and we formed up in the railroad parking lot,” Saxon said. “We had our Veterans Day convoy, so we are still doing this 22 years in a row.”
After the parade, an open house was held at the VFW Post on Main Avenue. Burgers were served to veterans and civilians.
njohnson@durangoherald.com
