Veterans of several wars are part of Charlotte parade

Whether marching or sitting and watching, U.S. military veterans representing several decades were on hand Saturday in uptown Charlotte for the annual Salute to Veterans Parade.

The event, sponsored by US Airways and the Carolinas Freedom Foundation, featured several high school marching bands, antique cars and members of area high school Junior Reserve Office Training Corps groups.

But the real stars were the veterans. Some who marched carried photos of friends and relatives who died in military action. Parade participants and spectators ranged from veterans of World War II to those who served in recent U.S. military actions in the Middle East.

A number of events are scheduled for Tuesday, on Veterans Day. In Charlotte, there will be a flag-raising ceremony at 11 a.m. at Central Piedmont Community College’s Overcash Building on Elizabeth Avenue. There will also be a concert featuring the Carolina Brass at noon at Christ Episcopal Church, 1412 Providence Road.

Ceremonies for veterans will take place at 11 a.m. at Stumptown Park on South Trade Street in Matthews, and at 7 p.m. in Hickory at the Elks Lodge, 356 Main Ave. N.W.

Mooresville will host an 11 a.m. ceremony at Glenwood Memorial Park, followed at 11:30 a.m. by a parade on North Main Street and a concert at noon in front of Town Hall. And in Kings Mountain, a parade is set for 10:30 a.m. on Railroad Avenue, starting at the War Memorial.

This story was originally published November 8, 2014 at 5:40 PM.