Photo By Staff Sgt. Michael Crawford | Fred J. Fair, U.S. Army Reserve ambassador, waves to parade attendees while riding a...... read more read more
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PITTSBURGH – Soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines joined the community and other veteran organizations for the Veterans Day parade Nov. 10 in downtown Pittsburgh.
Army Reserve soldiers with the 316th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) marched at the front of the parade, leading the way for local marching bands, veterans and other military services.
“The 316th has a very good reputation for being part of the community,” said Fred J. Fair, U.S. Army Reserve ambassador. “We sometimes take it for granted that our communities know what we do or how we fit in – especially Reserve components – to the national defense of our country. For us to show [the community] there is a military presence in Allegheny County is important.”
Normally, children have difficulty attending the parade due to school, said Ralph Ussack, commander of the Federation of War Veterans Society. Except this year was different. The Federation, which was responsible for organizing the parade, had a unique opportunity this year to reach the city’s younger audience since the parade took place on a Saturday.
“The youth of America needs to be educated about the people who have paid the ultimate sacrifice and those who have paid some sacrifice so they can have the rights and freedoms they enjoy and learn to appreciate,” said Ussack, a former Marine corporal. “Today ... we get an opportunity to get those young people out and have their parents bring them down to the parade.”
The simple act of people standing along the side of the road during the parade has kept veterans proud of their service and has kept them eager to return each year.
“I’ve been participating in the Pittsburgh Veterans Day parade for … seven years,” said Fred J. Fair, a retired command sergeant major with 42 years of service. “Our [veterans] make a tremendous sacrifice, and this is just a small token of how a community can express their appreciation by showing up for a parade like this.”
| Date Taken: | 11.10.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 11.14.2012 12:36 |
| Story ID: | 97772 |
| Location: | PITTSBURGH, PA, US |
| Web Views: | 85 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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