Hammond Veterans parade draws large crowd to pay tribute

The unpredictable fall weather didn’t deter the throngs of people lined up to view the recent 11th Annual Veterans Appreciation Parade in the Hessville area of Hammond.

Although the air was quite chilly, the sun was out and the atmosphere was very upbeat.

“We have a lot of veterans in our family, so we make sure to come to this every year,” said Sara Jackson of Hammond. “Everyone is in a great mood. No other city has a parade like this just for all vets, so it’s super special.”

Grand Marshals were members of the Hammond Police Department who also are veterans.

Various Service organizations, military vehicles, local companies, schools and officials sponsored floats in the parade.

A short flyover show by the Lima Lima Flight Team brightened the day’s festivities.

Ricardo and Norma DeLeon of Hammond were among the first families to arrive on the parade route along 173rd Street.

Although Ricardo is not a veteran, he has admiration for those who served, and wanted to attend to show his support. “I’m also very patriotic, so I definitely wanted to be here,” Norma added. “This (event) is a wonderful way to show we care.”

The Hartman family of Highland agreed.

“We have quite a few Marine veterans in our family, and I know they feel honored for Hammond to do this,” Jess Hartman of Hammond said.

“It’s very touching.” said Leon Wolek, of Leon’s Triathilon, who met up with his team members at the Hammond Armory before the parade began. “We can’t do enough to honor and respect our Veterans,” he said. “They are our National Treasures.”

The Hammond Central High School JROTC led the parade, as well as posted colors at the short ceremony that took place at Hessville Park when the parade ended.

“It’s so refreshing that these young people are taking part in this celebration,” said longtime Hammond resident Rose Jeffreys, as she found a seat for the service. “With so many unpredictable things going on in the world today, it’s wonderful to see that they want to be involved with their city’s present and its past.”

The guest speaker was Hammond Police Officer Corporal Spencer Lemmons.

Lemmons comes from a long line of family members who have served in various branches of the United States Armed Forces throughout the past 70 years.

“People join the Service for many reasons. For example, they may need a job,   money for college, or they view it as a sense of responsibility,” he said. “For me, it was a sense of responsibility. I felt I was enabled to continue to serve my country (as my family had).”

Although Hammond offers many parades throughout the year, none of them focuses specifically on recognizing veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott, a U.S. Navy veteran himself, decided to change that 11 years ago.

The Hammond Parks and Recreation Dept. came on board, and the Veterans Appreciation Parade and Ceremony has come into its own.

Sue Ellen Ross is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.