PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The city’s 10th annual Veteran’s Day parade Sunday shone a spotlight on the needs and interests of the men and women who have put their lives on the line to serve the United States. Veteran’s Day is Monday. Veteran’s Day is Monday.
“It’s a real good feeling in the heart to make you proud,” said Tom Manning, one of dozens of motorcycle riders with the organization Warriors Watch who rode down the Benjamin Franklin Parkway with hundreds of marchers for Philadelphia’s parade.
Manning, who served from 1968 to 1971, says it’s a great feeling to take part.
“We’re representing the guys who served not only from our time on — but my father was in the Army, my wife’s father was in the Army. And even prior to that my grandfather was in the Army in World War I.”
Jim Jones, who served from 1983 to 1987 in the U.S. army’s 82nd airborne division as an engineer, is also a member of Warriors’ Watch. The organization supports veterans in a number of ways.
“We do funerals, we do escorts, we do a mug-and-hug — if someone is having a birthday, we’ll go and honor them,” Jones said. “We just want 15 minutes of their time. There is no cost. Everything we do is on our own dime and on our own time.”
Jones says it’s imperative for him and other members of the group to give back to the men and women who served their country.
“A lot of Vietnam vets came back, and they were spit on, they had food thrown at them. That shouldn’t be and that’s the reason why we do what we do. We don’t want the veterans to come back that way. We want them to feel appreciated.”
Jones says it’s always an emotional time when he takes part in the parade as sees so many people out showing their support.
“To have something for the veterans, it’s pretty special.”
The day is also an opportunity for organizations that serve veterans to connect with people who may need their resources.
“We need help in the VA hospital,” he said. “It’s always a matter of concern for the veterans — the amount of health care, the benefits we get,” Manning said.