After Grand Marshal Gene Sweeney finished riding in the Tribute to Heroes Parade May 29, he wanted to watch the remainder of the event with fellow veterans who watched the finish from a VIP tent.
Sweeney had plenty of time to visit, too, as the parade lasted another 80 minutes.
It was in 2009 when Sweeney and John Breiner, now the owner of Wolves Head Pizza and Wings, started the event. It was a short event.
No longer.
"The team that took over this event has been so committed," Sweeney said. "There were 70-plus organizations participating."
The parade has numerous highlights, but an appearance by the Lakewood Ranch High School marching band might have topped it all.
Lakewood Ranch's Lexi Sapanero, 4, had a wonderful time catching beads and bubbles.
Sarasota's Bruce Porter thundered through the parade with his fellow Blue Knights.
Alexander Browne, 10, enjoyed the opportunity to wear a helmet and hold a sword as the Crewe of De Soto passed.
Kids watching the parade could catch candy thrown by Betsy Ross, played by Regina Mateus.
Drummers from the Mustang Marching Band provided heart-pounding excitement.
Aliyah Hurt of Lakewood Ranch High School's marching band twirls her flag.
Bradenton's Samantha Hyatt, the reigning Miss Central Florida, plays to the crowd.
Lakewood Ranch High Schools JROTC members marched to honor those who died defending our country.
Carol Jean Sweeney and her husband, parade Grand Marshal Gene Sweeney, acknowledge the huge crowd.
Troop 191 of Living Lord Lutheran of Lakewood Ranch was represented in the parade by Aiden O'Kelly, David Richardson, Luke Stoker and Michael Mansur, who rode the back of a West Manatee Fire Rescue truck.
Ryan Rowe, 5, of Sarasota gets a monkey balloon from Peridia's Stevie Dee.
Lily Gillett, 8, and Madelyn Gillett, 10, rode the Lakewood Ranch Dental float.
A horse-drawn carriage carried a casket covered by an American flag to end the parade.
Lakewood Ranch's Lucas Estep, 4, proves you never can have too many beads.
Army veteran Dave Harrington was given an honorable ride in the parade.
Lakewood Ranch's marching band made a colorful entrance.
The Mustang Marching Band again was the highlight of the parade.
Tom Cunningham and Ron LeVene represented the Sahib Temple Sarasota. "They usually put us behind the horses," Cunningham said.
Santa, played by Leeson Foullon, the bunny, played by Daniel Wilkinson, the leprechaun, played by Jack Wilkinson, and an elf, played by Helena Beltrao, all rode the Lakewood Ranch Community Activities float.
The Bradentucky Bombers rolled along the parade course.
Lakewood Ranch's Gerry Lynch, a retired Navy lieutenant, junior grade, watches the parade from the VIP section with his wife, Barbara.
Lexi Kahler, 11, Olivia Sherry, 11, and Maya Rengifo 12, had a blast at the parade.
VFW Post 12055's Ernie Freedman, Navy, David Harrington, Army, and Ron Leonard, Marines, worked a booth at the parade.
Bella Talerico, Layla Robertson and Isabella Oliveira, all of Girl Scout Troop 888 of Tara Elementary, competed in the parade's decorate a scooter competition.
Sarasota's Eileen Carrigan of Blue Skye Pipe and Drum and New World Celts belts out a tune.
The Tribute to Heroes Parade lasted almost 90 minutes.
Sarasota's Frank Decker, a retired Army corporal, enjoys the parade from the VIP section with his wife, Pam.
Esteban Morales, 4, of Sarasota, and Tyler Padgett, 5, of Parrish, can't wait for the parade to start.
Rochelle Andrews and Dallas Collins showed that the Navy was in the house.
You never know who will show up at the Tribute to Heroes Parade.
