Annual Veteran’s Day Parade marches through Fort Myers River District

The federal observation of Veterans Day is Monday, but it’s never too early to celebrate and honor the men and women who fight to keep this country free.

The River District did that by hosting its 6th annual Veteran’s Day Parade in downtown Fort Myers Sunday, allowing many to come out during their weekend to celebrate veterans.

U.S Army veteran Bert Kurland, 93, told us there was no place he would rather have been as a proud veteran than at the Fort Myers celebration.

“I’m just going to ride like any other veteran and enjoy myself,”” Kurland said.

Kurland and his fellow veterans were out in public to recognize the sacrifice so many of them have made to protect our nation’s freedoms.

“We honor those who are still here, and we honor those who are not here,” Kurland said.

And that is how the parade was led through the River District— honoring our nation’s heroes.

“It just makes you feel so proud to see these people out there that want to be a part of something bigger than them and know that they’re appreciated for the service they provided to this country,” said Kevin Boyd, the chairman of the Board of the River District Alliance and the post commander of American Legion Post 38.

Anyone who missed the parade in Fort Myers has not completely missed out on Veterans Day celebrations in the area. The parade in Cape Coral starts 11 a.m. tomorrow on Cape Coral Parkway.

In Fort Myers, bands played and flags waved. And the next generation of service men and women marched to show veterans how much they mean to community members in Southwest Florida.

“To see the veterans and see everyone waving their flags and being so patriotic, that’s what it’s about,” said Mary Bartoshuk, who marched in the parade.

Vietnam veteran Johnny Baker told us seeing his fellow brothers in combat riding in the parade nearly moved him to tears.

“I just felt something very emotional from those guys,” Baker said. “They went through so much.”