The Tamaqua Veterans Day Parade was held Saturday to honor the men and women who served our nation in the various branches of the United States military.

“Our veterans are very important to us and we need to observe them,” said Tamaqua native Michele Weaver. “They fought for our country; but, if it weren’t for them, we wouldn’t be where we are today.”

Weaver and her sister, Beth Yarnell, sat near the Tamaqua American Legion to watch the Tamaqua Veterans Day Parade on Saturday. They try to attend the parade ever year.

“We need to support them like they support us,” Yarnell said. “Its always good to support people.”

The parade’s grand marshal was Navy Veteran David H. Hadesty, his first time doing the honors.

“It’s the first time since I came home from Vietnam,” he said.

Hadesty joined the reserves while in high school in 1963. He said he had two weeks of training at the Great Lakes training center, and attended weekly meetings in Hazleton.

Asked why he joined the military, Hadesty said, “I wanted to do it.”

Members of the Honor Guard from the American Legion Post 173 of Tamaqua held a small ceremony at the Tamaqua War Memorial, then drove to the Tamaqua Insurance Center on Broad Street for the start of the parade.

The parade went Broad Street, past Route 309 and the railroad tracks (pausing for the steam train that passed through) and proceeded to Lehigh Street.

The parade was led by the Tamaqua Police Department and the Color Guard from the Tamaqua American Legion Post 173.

Members of The Tamaqua Area High School Raiders Marching Band and Band Front, plus the school’s cheerleaders, came next, much to the delight of those watching the parade.

Also in the parade were several military vehicles and other members of the Legion in several cars and trucks.

First responders in the parade included units from Tamaqua Ambulance and EMS; Tamaqua Fire Co.; American Hose Co., Citizens Hose Co., and East End Fire Co., all of Tamaqua; West Penn Fire Co.; Hometown Fire Co./Rush Township Fire Police; Mary D Fire Company; Tuscarora Fire Company; Rescue 65; and the Coaldale Fire Company. Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts from West Penn Township and Andreas marched as well.

“We can’t forget about them, our veterans,” Michele Weaver said. “They’re important in our lives.”