Columbus Veterans Day parade 'welcomes home' those who served, honors past veterans

On a cold day in early November 1991, Jim Camp remembers being very nervous as he was about to lead a formation of Ohio National Guard airmen marching in a Veterans Day parade in Downtown Columbus. 

“I was a second lieutenant, and this was one of my first assignments – I was terrified,” Camp said with chuckle. 

Nearly 30 years and nine deployments later, Maj. Gen. Camp is now commander of the Ohio Air National Guard. He presided over the roughly 60 guard members who marched in the annual Columbus Veterans Day Parade on Friday.  

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The event was no less meaningful than it was three decades ago.  

'It’s really important to acknowledge the past and current veterans'

“It’s really important to acknowledge the past and current veterans,” said Camp, of Dublin, as he waited on the sidewalk for the parade to start. “It’s important for the city of Columbus to understand the scope of service across generations. This brings awareness that a lot of citizens around us are currently serving or have served.” 

In fact, parade organizers this year sought to show just how many veterans live and contribute to the Greater Columbus community, said Pete Zoretic, president of the local veterans organization MILVETS that has hosted the parade for more than three decades. 

Businesses such as Accenture, Huntington Bank and COTA created floats and banners for the parade – whose theme was "Welcome Home" – and encouraged their veteran employees to participate in it.  

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Parade organizers also wanted to highlight troops who have served since the 9/11 attacks, including those in Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn. Many of those service members recently arrived home with the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan this summer.  

“We hadn’t done anything to encapsulate the last 20 years, primarily in the Middle East,” said Zoretic, a retired lieutenant colonel with the United States Marine Corps who served in Afghanistan. “A lot of times many service organizations are manned by older generations. Younger veterans don’t feel appreciated, particularly now that we’re out of Afghanistan. It was heartbreaking how that all ended.” 

Columbus Veterans Day parade honors servicemen across generations

The hour-long parade began on Nationwide Boulevard before heading south on North High Street and turning west on Broad Street, concluding at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum. It featured a number of younger veterans that served in more recent operations as well as the conflicts that came before, dating back to World War II. 

Some drove in classic cars while others on decorated floats. The Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, of course, rode on Harley-Davidsons and other bikes. And those with the Motts Military Museum in Groveport maneuvered the streets in vintage Jeeps and other military vehicles that delighted the crowd.  

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Maj. Britney Hensley, of the Ohio Air National Guard's 178th Wing, said it was a fitting celebration of her and her husband’s service and sacrifice, as well as that of all the veterans who have come before them.

“You’re missing birthdays, missing events in your life like weddings, deaths, graduations,” said Hensley, a Wilmington mother of two. “This is a reminder for everyone to stop for a minute and think, ‘Oh my gosh, these people all raised their hands to put something before themselves and their family and do something for everyone.’” 

'We’re also here to show our support … We can’t thank these guys enough'

Decent weather, with temperatures in the high 40s and plenty of sunshine, brought out a good crowd to cheer on the hundreds of veterans and active military members participating in the parade.  

Kirk Dixon attended with his adult daughter and toddler grandson, partially because 1-year-old Rowan enjoys fire engines and trucks and the loud booms coming from drums or the cannon at the Ohio Statehouse. 

However, the significance of the occasion wasn’t lost on the Reynoldsburg man. 

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“We’re also here to show our support,” Dixon said. “Regardless of if you have conservative or liberal political views, we need to recognize those who put their lives on the line for us. We can’t thank these guys enough.” 

And even though her son is still too young to comprehend the meaning behind the parade and Veterans Day, Sarah Dixon was grateful to expose him to the event.  

“I feel nowadays (veterans) aren’t recognized enough,” she said. “As he grows up, I want him to understand and appreciate those who sacrifice for us all.” 

award@dispatch.com

@AllisonAWard