The Hilo Elks Lodge #759 was one of the 82 official units in the parade.
(BIVN) – Over 82 official units took part in the Hawaii Island Veterans Day Parade on Saturday.
The event was held under sunny Hilo skies, and lasted about an hour as bands, floats, and various convoys traversed the route encircling the Downtown area.
This was the 10th year for the parade. The theme for 2017, “Celebrate Service”, focuses on the increased involvement of veterans and the community to serve those in need, organizers said, adding that the parade has grown into one of Hawaii’s largest Veterans Day parades.
The Grand Marshal for this year’s parade: All Vietnam Era Veterans. The Community Parade Marshal was the Daughters of the American Revolution Hawai‘i Loa Chapter, and the Business Parade Marshal was HPM Building Supply.
“With close to 20,000 Veterans living within our island community and a large percentage having served during Vietnam,” organizers found it fitting to name Vietnam Era Veterans as the Grand Marshal of the parade.
Lt. Walter Hughes is a veteran of World War II and a B-24 bomber pilot for the Army Air Corps. He completed 35 bombing missions over Germany, and still proudly wears his original uniform.
Judge Ed Kubo, who presides over the Veterans Treatment Court on Oahu, is one of the proponents for the Big Island Veterans Treatment Court.
The United States Pacific Fleet Band, representing the United States Navy in Hawaii for more than 75 years.
Hilo’s version of Washington DC’s Rolling Thunder, the “Aloha Thunder” motorcycle convoy begins the parade.
Taishoji Taiko, closing out the parade, reportedly dedicated their performance in gratitude to the veterans.
by Big Island Video News
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STORY SUMMARY
HILO, Hawaii - This year, Vietnam Era Veterans were honored as the Grand Marshal for the annual Hilo parade.