PITTSBURGH -- An estimated crowd of 10,000 turned out for the annual downtown Veterans Day parade Tuesday morning, WTAE Channel 4's Ari Hait reported.
"Veterans Day is what our country is all about," said Mike Lyons, of Penn Hills. "They're what made our country beautiful and wonderful to live in."
The procession began at 10:30 a.m. at Mellon Arena and wound its way through the Golden Triangle, from Fifth Avenue to Liberty Avenue and ending at Commonwealth Place near the Hilton hotel.
Brig. Gen. Gregory Couch and the 316th Sustainment Command U.S. Army Reserve led the parade.
"It's a very special day to me," Couch said. "I've been in for well over 27 years, serving for my country, and I think about all the vets that was before me."
More than 20 high school marching bands and dozens of civic and veterans groups participated.
"It's nice that people come out and recognize what people do for the country," said Staff Sgt. Donna Briscoe.
Later in the day, "Black and Gold Boxing" will be held at the downtown Marriott City Center hotel to benefit The Friends of Danang, the World War II Memorial and the Western Pennsylvania Police Athletic League. Call 412-298-7373 for ticket information.
In Monroeville, a banner will be available for visitors to sign on the second floor of the Monroeville Mall, near the JC Penney store, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The banner will be delivered to U.S. troops in Afghanistan for Thanksgiving.
In Washington County,
a ceremony was held at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies in Cecil Township. It was timed to end at 11 a.m. to coincide with what used to be known as Armistice Day, which marked the end of World War I.
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