Hundreds salute veterans at NE Portland parade
PORTLAND, Ore. – Hundreds lined Sandy Boulevard in Northeast Portland Monday morning to watch the Ross Hollywood Veterans Day Parade.
The Grand Marshals of this year’s parade were the parents of 22-year-old Marine Corporal Keaton Coffey of Boring, who died while serving in Afghanistan in May.
It was the first time in 38 years that a family of a soldier who died in combat led the parade ceremonies.
“The reason I don’t have too much today is because my son, our son said it all,” said Grant Coffey. “He gave his life for all of us.”
Veterans of wars past and present marched in the parade, and many others sat in the crowds. Local law enforcement and bands of all sizes were also on hand.
Eugene Hayden served in World War II working at a hospital in England, where he helped bring in wounded soldiers.
“We were there shortly after D-Day, so the wounded were coming in at an unbelievable pace,” Hayden said.
“For those that are here today, thank you for being here and honoring our men and women,” said Coffey. “We are humbled for being here today. It’s for our boy and all the vets here today.”
Nice set of photos of parade. Photographer gets A+ from me.
After getting spit on and called names at Travis AFB when coming home from a war before most on these threads were even born, I left my Class A uniform in a heap outside the restroom after changing into civvies. I wore my embroidered 25th ID shirt under my Columbia sweatshirt that was made in some 3rd world country yesterday and today out of respect for those of us that served and thanks...