Come on down for the Veterans Day parade

Expect 90 minutes of unbridled patriotism.

Today's Colorado Springs Veterans Day parade will be the loudest, biggest and most colorful ever, with 105 entries and 15 marching bands.

The parade starts at 10 a.m. on Tejon Street downtown, where parking will be free at many sites.

The mission: to honor all veterans.

Spectators are encouraged to bring signs to wave as veterans from World War II to present active-duty march down Tejon Street.

“Entries will cover the full gamut,” spokeswoman Diana Ceciliani said. “It is important for families to come out and honor the service and sacrifices of the veterans.”

This is the 10th year for the parade that was started by a small nonprofit group. It is funded by donations, not by the government. It costs about $35,000 to host.

“We had a lot of concerns going in with the economy whether we would be able to do it,” she said. “It is a testament to area business that stepped up, even in this tough economy, to have the parade.”

• DETAILS

When and where: Parade begins at 10 a.m. today, at Tejon and St. Vrain streets, and runs south on Tejon to Vermijo Avenue.

Parking: Free, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., at unhooded parking meters and city parking garages (Nevada Avenue and Kiowa Street, Nevada and Colorado avenues, Cascade Avenue and Bijou Street). During the parade, parking will be free under Holly Sugar Building, Hilton Antlers and Wells Fargo Bank Tower.

More information: csvetsparade.org

—
Call the writer
at 636-0253.