Parade honors vets in Virginia Beach

VIRGINIA BEACH

A piece of forgotten history will be celebrated during Tuesday's Veterans Day parade at the Oceanfront.

The festivities start at 9 a.m., but at 11 a.m. a special military flyover of F-18 Naval fighter jets also will commemorate the signing of the armistice ending World War I.

It was signed at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918.

"It was at one time, called Armistice Day," said Wally Timmons, a past president of the Hampton Roads Council of Veterans, the group sponsoring the celebration. This year, the Military Order of World Wars will be a co-sponsor of the event.

The military parade, which lasts until noon, will feature 75 units and include Pearl Harbor survivors as well as World War II and Vietnam War veterans.

Assorted dignitaries, admirals and generals are expected to attend the parade, which kicks off at 16th Street and Atlantic Avenue. The procession will end at the Tidewater Veterans Memorial on 19th Street and will be followed by a memorial service and luncheon.

Timmons, who served during in Vietnam, said commemorative events like these are important to veterans.

"It gives you a sense of pride that the country cares about your fighting for our freedom," Timmons said. "A lot of them are heroes. And you're just glad you came out of there alive and you're proud that you did serve your country."

There are nearly 2,000 members of the Hampton Roads Council of Veterans Organizations including veterans from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard.

Bob Freitag, also a Vietnam War veteran and immediate past president of the Hampton Roads Council of Veterans Organizations, said the group's annual parade started in 1970.

"If it wasn't for veterans, you could put every other day in the trash can," Freitag said. "We're paying our respects to those who have guaranteed our freedom throughout the years."

Rita Frankenberry, 222-5102, rita.frankenberry@pilotonline.com