Veterans, motorcycles and local bands filled the streets of downtown Jackson on Saturday morning for the 12th annual veterans parade.
All veterans were invited to take part, and they could ride, march or walk in the parade as part of a weekend of activities honoring their service, WBBJ reported. Participants gathered in the civic center parking lot before heading through downtown at 11 a.m.
Mary Ross, chairperson of the West Tennessee Veterans Day parade, said the event is meant to remind people that it is okay to approach a veteran and say thank you.
"My goal here is with the bands and the people who come out to show up is letting them know that it is okay to walk up to a veteran thank them for their service because every veteran needs that," Ross said. "It makes a difference in their life, their mentality, what they're doing, so it's very important that they carry that on."
This year marked the 12th time the parade has rolled through downtown Jackson. Veterans Day is Wednesday, Nov. 11.
Raw 100.5 thanks every veteran in Jackson, Madison County and across West Tennessee for their service.
Sources: WBBJ