AUBURN -- Flags flew and sirens blew Monday morning as the city of Auburn celebrated the country's fallen troops.
Thousands of people lined Genesee Street to watch the city's Memorial Day parade. Almost 40 local organizations participated, including more than a dozen veteran and military groups.
Parade participants moved along Genesee Street, ending at the podium set up in front of Veterans Memorial Park. The Auburn Civic Band played patriotic marches in the park throughout the event.
"It is terrific that we are honoring our veterans today, because they are so often overlooked," Auburn Mayor Michael Quill said after the parade. "Everything was perfect. There was perfect weather and a terrific parade."
Though some dark clouds and windy conditions blew through during the first half-hour, the weather cooperated throughout the parade.
Quill and about a dozen city and county officials presided over the parade from the podium. State Sen. Michael Nozzolio also attended.
A memorial ceremony was held in the park directly following the parade. American Legion Post 1324 presented the colors and fired a 21-gun salute. At the end, veterans groups and local community organizations set wreaths on the memorial monument in remembrance of fallen troops.
The Rev. Paul Freemesser led the commemoration with a prayer and benediction, asking the crowd to consider the honor that goes into being a veteran.
"A veteran ... is someone who at one point in their life wrote a blank check to the United States of America made payable for a price as high as their own life," Freemesser said.
Local merchant Sheila Barrera took her family to the parade. Almost 10 members of the Barrera family helped crowd the corner of William and Genesee streets in front of her store, PBJ on the Corner.
Barrera, 80, said her family has attended the Memorial Day parade for years. They used to watch it from the roof of the store, she said.
"It makes me feel good to see all these people downtown," Barrera said. "It's a joy for me to see all this activity."
Barrera's twin grandchildren, John and Lyla, both 8, both said their favorite part of the parade is all the candy that gets thrown to the crowd.
"I like the gum," Lyla said.
Susan Kalabanka, of Auburn, came down to watch her daughter march with her Little League baseball team. However, Kalabanka said she watches the parade every year.
"It's tradition, and it's patriotic," she said. "I like to watch the jets fly over the parade and support the veterans."
Parade participants moved along Genesee Street, ending at the podium set up in front of Veterans Memorial Park. The Auburn Civic Band played patriotic marches in the park throughout the event.
"It is terrific that we are honoring our veterans today, because they are so often overlooked," Auburn Mayor Michael Quill said after the parade. "Everything was perfect. There was perfect weather and a terrific parade."
Though some dark clouds and windy conditions blew through during the first half-hour, the weather cooperated throughout the parade.
Quill and about a dozen city and county officials presided over the parade from the podium. State Sen. Michael Nozzolio also attended.
A memorial ceremony was held in the park directly following the parade. American Legion Post 1324 presented the colors and fired a 21-gun salute. At the end, veterans groups and local community organizations set wreaths on the memorial monument in remembrance of fallen troops.
The Rev. Paul Freemesser led the commemoration with a prayer and benediction, asking the crowd to consider the honor that goes into being a veteran.
"A veteran ... is someone who at one point in their life wrote a blank check to the United States of America made payable for a price as high as their own life," Freemesser said.
Local merchant Sheila Barrera took her family to the parade. Almost 10 members of the Barrera family helped crowd the corner of William and Genesee streets in front of her store, PBJ on the Corner.
Barrera, 80, said her family has attended the Memorial Day parade for years. They used to watch it from the roof of the store, she said.
"It makes me feel good to see all these people downtown," Barrera said. "It's a joy for me to see all this activity."
Barrera's twin grandchildren, John and Lyla, both 8, both said their favorite part of the parade is all the candy that gets thrown to the crowd.
"I like the gum," Lyla said.
Susan Kalabanka, of Auburn, came down to watch her daughter march with her Little League baseball team. However, Kalabanka said she watches the parade every year.
"It's tradition, and it's patriotic," she said. "I like to watch the jets fly over the parade and support the veterans."
