Welch, WV (WOAY) – Families lined the streets of downtown Welch on Wednesday morning for the city’s 108th annual Veterans Day parade.
Organizers say the parade is the longest-running Veterans Day parade in the country and has never missed a year. Veterans, marching bands, community groups, law enforcement and EMS crews made their way through downtown in a celebration of those who have served in the armed forces.
Del. David Green, who represents McDowell County, grew up watching the parade.
“We have one of the highest per capita amount of veterans in all of the United States is right here in McDowell County,” said Green, delegate for the 36th District. “My children who have been coming all their lives and it’s a highlight of them to be able to come and honor their grandfather, who was a veteran. My dad was also a veteran. He’s passed away now. But I’m really glad for the privilege to be able to honor our veterans,” he said.
This year’s grand marshal, West Virginia University President Michael Benson, traveled from Morgantown for the parade and brought the Mountaineer with him.
“Our hosts showed me a picture of Harry Truman, who’s my hero, in the parade, I think, in 1954, and they asked if I would come and do the same, and I said I would be beyond honored,” Benson said. “You come to a town like this and you see the deep respect and appreciation these folks have for our veterans. And that’s incredibly inspiring.”
Charles David Brown, an Iaeger native and Vietnam veteran, attended the parade on behalf of American Legion Post 1144. Brown was drafted in 1969, and his unit traveled through Cambodia by armored personnel carrier.
“God spoke to me one morning and said, ‘Get off this APC.’ And I got off of it, got on another one and that evening it was destroyed. Killed six men,” Brown said.
Brown said the crowds that filled Welch on Wednesday stand in contrast to the welcome home many Vietnam veterans received.
“They would spit on them through the airports … So the boys would change clothes in the bathroom so you wouldn’t have to put up with the harassment that was handed out. … When you do what you’re supposed to do, you expect to be at least thanked for it. Back in that day we weren’t … So I’m thankful our country’s turned around,” he said.
