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‘We’re the brave ones’: Annual parade honors veterans for their sacrifice

By Colette Costlow 4 min read

Rick Kissell, a Navy and Pennsylvania National Guard veteran, wore his decorated veteran's baseball cap to the city's annual Veterans Day parade Wednesday morning.

"I'm a true American; I honor all my fellow vets," he said. "And this is a way to show that."

Like Kissell, city resident Daniel Shumaker wanted to show his support at the parade. Shumaker served in the Army in Vietnam from 1970-71.

"We're the ones who take care of the county," he said. "We're the brave ones."

Kissell and Shumaker were among the many residents who supported veterans at Wednesday's parade by participating in the festivities or watching it pass by with their families.

Hollidaysburg Veterans Home Commandant Chrissy Dambeck, the keynote speaker for the event, said the community gathered on Wednesday not by background or birthplace but by a shared reverence for veterans.

"Today is not simply a date, but a solemn tribute," she said. "It is a moment in which we as a community lift our voices together to say, 'we remember, we honor, we will never forget.'"

Line up

With 75 participating units marching in the parade hosted by the Blair County War Veterans Council, coordinator Mike McDonough said it specifically honors all veterans, especially those overseas.

He hoped that people would take away "how important the veterans really were to make us a free country."

Trucks, trailers and buses lined up on Eighth Avenue in the morning as parade participants anxiously waited to start at 10:30 a.m.

American Heritage Girls, Altoona Troop 1230, has participated in the annual parade for the last five years, according to troop coordinator Sandy McLaughlin. With 39 girls in their unit, she said they wanted to honor local veterans in numbers.

"I think they're feeling great," she said. "They're excited to be here. They're happy to be together and happy to show their support."

McLaughlin's daughter and American Heritage Girls member Julie McLaughlin, 13, said she wanted people watching the parade to know that they support their veterans.

About six Garvey Manor Nursing Home residents piled onto a bus to participate in the parade, according to director of activities Barb Hileman.

Some of those veterans included Father Carl Spishak and Father Dave Becker, both former Navy chaplains stationed in Okinawa, Japan.

After the event, Hileman said the Garvey Manor veterans on the bus became emotional; many moved to tears.

"They were moved by the number of community members who came to show support for their service," she said.

Honoring veterans

City resident Nicole Burkle watched the parade go by on 11th Avenue with her son, nephew and niece, along with her parents.

Burkle said her husband served more than 21 years in the military band. One of her sons, who is a senior at Altoona Area High School, performed with the band on Wednesday.

She said it's important to bring younger children to the event because they need to know the nation's history.

"We stand for our flag, and we respect our nation," she said.

Her son, Brandon Burkle, 12, agreed that it's important to respect America's veteran history.

"Everyone that served needs to notice that they matter and that they did good things for our country," he said.

A ceremony at the Robert E. Laws Veterans Mall followed the parade, where people gathered to listen to the speakers and performances by the Altoona Area High School Vocal Ensemble.

Dambeck said it was exhilarating to speak at Wednesday's ceremony.

"It's truly an honor and a privilege to serve the veterans as they served for us and fought for our freedom," she said.

Mirror Staff Writer Colette Costlow is at 814-946-7414.

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