HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Thousands of people gathered in Downtown Huntsville on Thursday morning to celebrate Veterans Day.
This parade was one of the biggest events in the Tennessee Valley. It started at 10 a.m. and lasted for an hour and a half.
One community member showed up to support her daughter, Charity Williams, a member of Lee High School's JROTC.
"Thank you so much for all that you have done, not just to our veterans, but to the families of our veterans," Arlean Williams said. "You've made a huge sacrifice, and there are not words or anything that we could ever say to say how much we appreciate you. May God bless, keep and prosper you."
Williams' favorite part wasn't the parade itself, but the community.
"It is always a very good time when you see the community members come out and everybody support our veterans and just a good cause," Williams said.
Another woman, Kathy Lafayette, came to the parade to support her grandson and celebrate the memory of her father.
"I just really appreciate all of the Veterans and any of the people that serve our country," Lafayette said. "It's something that we all really should be proud of."
Another Huntsville native brought her son to the parade.
"Veterans day means... It's a celebration of people that have fought for our freedom, and tell them thank you and that we appreciate them," Jordan Scott explained to her toddler.
Everyone felt it was important for them to share their gratitude with the veterans they saw in the crowd and in the parade.