Veterans Day parade honors the sacrifices of the community's veterans

By Ian Swaby
| 12:35 p.m. November 11, 2024

Ethan Parker, 12, rides with the Historic Aircraft Society.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Col. Ben Knisely, who was honored as Veteran of the Year along with Master Sgt. Barbara Vaughn, said Sarasota is a place that welcomes veterans.

"I would say to you, having grown up in the little town of Osprey — I know the area well — Sarasota is a very, very friendly place for veterans," he told attendees at the ceremony that followed the annual Veteran's Day Parade.

He said while he was honored to accept the award, he did it with one contingency — that he did so on behalf of all veterans in the community.

The whole veteran community was honored during the Veterans Day parade, held Nov. 11. along Main Street and featuring the participation of local police and fire staff, schools, clubs and organizations and concluding in the ceremony at J.D. Hamel Park.

The keynote speaker was Erica Stone Gregory, a retired lieutenant colonel who served 20 years in the U.S. Air Force, whose husband is State Rep. Tommy Gregory.

She recounted how growing up with a father who was an Air Force veteran and a mother who was an immigrant from the Dominican Republic, she learned a respect for America's freedoms.

She said although her own sacrifices could not compare with those many other veterans had made.

"Let me tell you why I believe many of them did it," she said. "It's because we are proud of this country, and we all should be. This is the greatest country in the history of the world because of the rights and freedoms enshrined in our Constitution. We must defend our country and its ideals to ensure we remain a beacon of freedom, and I'm proof that the United States of America is a wonderful melting pot and remains the land of opportunity."

Yuly Torres, Ezra Torres, 3, and Yudi Torres watch the parade.

Lisa Beaumont and Jamieson Beaumont, 2, welcome the parade vehicles.

Col. Ben Knisely, who served 28 years in the U.S. Army and was honored as Veteran of the Year, interacts with the public during the 2024 Veterans Day parade.

Jake Coad takes a flag from Liz Taft of Daughters of the American Revolution.

A buss with members of the Vietnam Brotherhood approaches.

Antoinette Virgilio cheers on Sarasota Military Academy.

Todd Hughes and Rob Kehs of SRQ Vets rode with Ghost and Raven.

Danae and Krits Tran celebrated veterans with a sign.

Booker High School's JROTC team walks the parade route.

Jack R. of Fruitville Elementary School waits for the parade to begin.

Cheerleaders from Booker High School march in the parade.

Jana Metheny and her husband, Potentate Frank Metheny of Sahib Shriners, appear in the parade.

Catalina C. of Fruitville Elementary School watches as the parade begins.

The Riverview High School Kiltie Band marches in the parade.

Jan Solomon recites a prayer, while Inehue Nenquimo, an exchange student from Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Ecuador, translates it into Spanish.

Master Sgt. Barbara Vaughn, who spent 28 years in the Air Force, Air Force Reserves and Air National Guard, was honored as the female veteran of the year.

Erica Stone Gregory, who served 20 years in the U.S. Air Force, delivers a speech at the ceremony.

author

Ian Swaby

Ian Swaby is the Sarasota neighbors writer for the Observer. Ian is a Florida State University graduate of Editing, Writing, and Media and previously worked in the publishing industry in the Cayman Islands.