ODESSA, Texas —
VFW Post 4372 teamed up with Downtown Odessa and the City of Odessa to put on a Veterans Day parade on Texas Avenue in Odessa.
As a veteran himself, Junior Vice Commander of Post 4372 Kory Grant felt it was important to show other veterans their appreciation.
“Being able to serve this country is something that is dear to my heart," said Grant. "It’ll never leave and to be able to give back not only to the City of Odessa but to this nation still and show our support, show our pride, show our dignity, show our courage and commitment to excellence. That’s where I really take part in and make sure that I can give back to this city in a beautiful way.”
Marine veteran Ram Sandate came all the from El Dorado with his family to participate in the parade.
“As a veteran, we forget what we’re grateful for and there’s a lot of us, brothers and sisters, that didn’t make it home or that are away from home," Sandate said. "So, it’s a way of remembering them, that we will never forget them.”
He feels that it’s important for the next generation to learn about what our veterans do for our country.
“To see the little ones out here enthusiastic and to let them understand and help them learn what it means and what they’re doing it for,” Sandate added.
Grant says that he hopes to make the parade another annual event in Odessa and make it bigger and better as time goes on.