By Gabrielle Terrett

The Vicksburg Post

The American flag could be seen flying down Washington Street and held high with pride when suddenly the color guard appeared and carried more flags down the center of the street.

After the color guard finished the march, veterans, veterans, and more veterans could be seen waving and greeting the audience during Saturday’s annual Veterans Day parade.

Many dressed casually but what really brought attention towards the crowd were the veterans dressed in different military attire. 

Among the discreet veterans was one of Vicksburg’s own.

“I am a veteran and I came out to show support for all of my other veterans. I was in the Air Force. I was really in the air national guard but that’s a component of the air force,” said Bert Carraway.

“So I used to be with what they call a flying crew chief on C-17. So we flew around Iraq and Afghanistan, picked up wounded people and took them to hospitals. Coming to this parade it is a tradition. Since I’ve moved back to Vicksburg about five years ago I’ve made the last four or five parades.”

The event lasted for less than an hour and honored veterans from the Army, Navy, Air Force and U.S. Marine branches. However, a few guests in the parade accompanied the veterans.

Sheriff’s deputies and police could be seen driving squad cars with flashing lights down the center of historic downtown Vicksburg to honor the vets and address the audience along with the city’s firefighters and EMT’s.

The Salvation Army didn’t follow too far behind. The organization was represented in the parade in the Salvation Army’s disaster relief truck.

The Warren Central High School and Vicksburg High School JROTC programs were also present in the parade.

Other organizations in the parade included the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Alcorn State University, city officials, sororities and fraternities.

Along with the veterans viewing the parade were family members of the veterans. Wives, children, sisters, brothers and even a handful of parents came out to witness the parade.

“We’re staying here for the winter and my husband is a vet and it was good to see all the vets out here,” said Natalie Krogstie a wife of a veteran.

“I’d like to have seen a lot more younger people out here at the parade. Hopefully the word gets out.”