Positivity: 40,000 pack downtown Colorado Springs to thank the military
From Colorado Springs, Colorado (HT Michelle Malkin):
…. It was just “Welcome Home.”
Thanking the troops ruled at Saturday’s Red White and Brave Welcome Home Parade in downtown Colorado Springs that drew more than 40,000 supporters ….
The parade had tanks, fire trucks, cheerleaders and marching bands along with costumed characters on stilts and unicycles.
Grandpas, moms, kids and even dogs sported flags. Thousands of people waved banners of support for the soldiers and airmen marching down Tejon Street as a squadron of vintage World War II planes thundered overheard.
….. With the Iraq war still going after six years and the 8-year-old Afghanistan war heating up again, organizers wanted to give the community a chance to thank local troops for their sacrifices. Some Fort Carson soldiers have served in overseas three times.
“It’s a morale booster,” said Teresa Meza, who brought her two children to watch their dad march in the parade with thousands of his Army and Air Force comrades. Army Sgt. Daniel Meza is home between deployments.
“It is very uplifting,” said Chris McBean, whose husband, Staff Sgt. John McBean, is deployed to Afghanistan. “You know you are not alone.”
Ernie, a white French bulldog, paraded along the sidelines with a flag poked in his dog collar.
Air Force Staff Sgt. Jill Colbert bedecked the dog to watch her husband, Army Staff Sgt. Aaron Colbert, march down Tejon. “This is amazing. I didn’t think they would do something like this. I was surprised, pleasantly surprised,” she said.
B.J. Cameron was among the seniors who came to show support.
“I’m here just to let the troops know how much we appreciate them, to stand here and say thank you for your sacrifice,” said Cameron, the mother of a 27-year-old disabled Army veteran. ….
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