Veterans Day Parade at Fisherman’s Wharf draws thousands
“There she is,” Price-Yanez yelled, pointing at a marcher with an embarrassed grin as she jogged, two American flags blowing in her hair, next to the Oakland Military Institute contingent in San Francisco’s 97th annual Veterans Day Parade on Sunday.
The throngs waved tiny American flags, cheered and clapped under bright sun and clear blue skies as the ensemble passed Pier 39, marched by folks with chowder and crabmeat dripping off their chins along Jefferson Street and headed toward the reviewing stand near Aquatic Park.
The marchers were led out at 11 a.m. by the U.S. Marine color guard and rumbling Harley-Davidsons driven by members of the motorcycle club the Violators.
The only incident occurred about 20 minutes after the parade started when a member of the color guard fainted and needed medical attention.
The parade was moved to Fisherman’s Wharf from Market Street last year after several years of paltry attendance.
The change of venue appears to have been a success, drawing hundreds of out-of-towners away from the crab tanks and curio shops to see the spectacle.
World War II Navy veteran Myron Perry, 90, of Livermore said he thought about how scared he was during the invasion of Okinawa as he motored along the parade route in an antique fire engine.
The parade featured several dozen participating groups, ranging from local marching bands to law enforcement organizations, as well as junior ROTC units from several city high schools and leather-vested veterans from Bay Area motorcycle clubs.