2013 National Memorial Day Parade, Washington, D.C.

Members of the North Lincoln High School Band of Knights from Lincolnton, NC march in the 2013 National Memorial Day Parade/Patricia Leslie

The North Lincoln High School Band of Knights from Lincolnton, NC/Patricia Leslie

The National Society of Sons of the American Revolution in the 2013 National Memorial Day Parade/Patricia Leslie

Thousands of holiday celebrants lined Constitution Avenue for the National Memorial Day Parade to enjoy the sights and sounds and to pay tribute to members of the military who have given their lives for the United States.  The American Veterans Center presented the event which it resuscitated only eight years ago.  

High school bands from Oklahoma and North Carolina were by far the most numerous on the parade route. No college bands marched in the event which lasted a little over two hours, and no one seemed to mind.  Onlookers were happy to hear live patriotic music, see the uniforms, the swirling flags and girls, RGIII and his parents, all the marshals, and take pride in our nation's military which was on full display in strict fashion. Oh, and be glad the rain held off.

Major sponsors of the event were Myrtle Beach, S.C., American Airlines, Wells Fargo, the Military Order Purple Heart, T.A.P.S. (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors), Fund Raising Strategies, HBO, State Farm, and Costco Wholesale.

The riderless horse/Patricia Leslie

The U.S. Army Band played the Army song, As the Army Goes Rolling Along, without question the most popular tune played by bands throughout the afternoon/Patricia Leslie

Members of the U.S. Army/Patricia Leslie

Members of the U.S. Coast Guard or, maybe, the U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard?/Patricia Leslie

The U.S. Air Force/Patricia Leslie

The U.S. Navy/Patricia Leslie

The U.S. Marine Corps/Patricia Leslie

Robert Griffin III with his parents, Army veterans Jacqueline and Robert Griffin, Jr., honorary grand marshals/Patricia Leslie

The first float in the parade was sponsored by T.A.P.S. (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors)/Patricia Leslie

The Bruin Marching Band from Alfred Bonnabel Magnet Academic High School, Kenner, LA/Patricia Leslie

Gary Sinise and Joe Mantegna, honorary marshals/Patricia Leslie

 The sign on the wagon said "Cashdales"/Patricia Leslie

Ballou High School Majestic Knights Band from Washington, D.C./Patricia Leslie

J.R. Martinez, U.S. Army Veteran, Grand Marshal/Patricia Leslie

Athens Drive High School Marching Band, Raleigh, NC/Patricia Leslie

At 3 p.m. the parade paused for the playing of taps by a solitary bugler, and was followed by a moment of silence/Patricia Leslie

President George Washington must have left Martha in the kitchen to bake a cherry pie.  Without her, he looked like a grumpy old man/Patricia Leslie

President Abraham Lincoln came wifeless, too. Surely the naysayers can figure out the whereabouts of Mary Todd Lincoln/Patricia Leslie

The Franklin High School Black Knight Marching Band from Franklin, PA/Patricia Leslie

A high kicker in the Franklin High School Black Knight Marching Band from Franklin, PA/Patricia Leslie

Another grand marshal, Trace Adkins/Patricia Leslie

Sons of Confederate Veterans from Alexandria, VA, and Maryland/Patricia Leslie

Orange High School Panther Band, Hillsborough, NC/Patricia Leslie

Miami University Alumni remember Lt. Robert Meder, Miami Class of 1939/Patricia Leslie

Concordia Lutheran High School Marching Cadets, Ft. Wayne, IN/Patricia Leslie

Concordia Lutheran High School Marching Cadets, Ft. Wayne, IN/Patricia Leslie

Ninth and Tenth Horse Cavalry, Buffalo Soldiers, Washington, D.C./Patricia Leslie

Cache High School Bulldog Pride, Cache, OK/Patricia Leslie

The Lions Club, a sponsor/Patricia Leslie

Flags and military/Patricia Leslie

The Bayonne High School Band, Bayonne, NJ/Patricia Leslie

 Military heroes First Lt. John Campbell and Master Sergeant Richard Schema/Patricia Leslie

"We can do it!"/Patricia Leslie

Talihina High School Marching Band, Talihina, OK/Patricia Leslie

Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors/Patricia Leslie

James Oliver Johnson High School, Home of the Mighty Jaguars, The Mighty Sounds of the South, Huntsville, AL/Patricia Leslie

It's time to play hearty/Patricia Leslie

Honorary marshal Jerry Yellin flew the final mission in World War II/Patricia Leslie

Those carrying pictures of faces of the fallen veered off the parade route and turned left on 17th towards the WWII monument/Patricia Leslie

Henryetta High School Marching Band, Henryetta, OK/Patricia Leslie

Jefferson Davis High School Marching Band, Montgomery, AL/Patricia Leslie

Sanderson High School Marching Band, Raleigh, NC/Patricia Leslie

A Vietnam veteran/Patricia Leslie

Needham B. Broughton High School Band, Raleigh, NC/Patricia Leslie

Unbelievable!  Some members of the Republic of Vietnam Veterans Association Coalition wore heels to march in the parade/Patricia Leslie

A leg uniform of many colors is frequently seen in and out of parade routes/Patricia Leslie

Hope High School Marching Bobcat Band, Hope, AR, birthplace of President William Jefferson Clinton/Patricia Leslie

Hope High School's conductor/Patricia Leslie

Kuwait/Patricia Leslie

 Schalmont High School Sabres Marching Band, Schenectady, NY/Patricia Leslie

North County High School Raiders Regiment, Bonne Terre-Desloge, MO/Patricia Leslie

Regimental Band and Honor Guard, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Buzzards Bay, MA/Patricia Leslie

The U.S. military on the ready/Patricia Leslie

The airmen marched and chanted in cadence/Patricia Leslie

Honoring the families of America's fallen heroes/Patricia Leslie

Honoring the families of America's fallen heroes/Patricia Leslie

South Ridge High School Skyhawks, Beaverton, OR/Patricia Leslie

Pascagoula High School Panther Band, Pascagoula, MS/Patricia Leslie

Pascagoula High School Panther Band, Pascagoula, MS/Patricia Leslie

Cool dudes aka Central Islip Senior High School Musketeer Marching Band, Central Islip, NY/Patricia Leslie

Marching home again/Patricia Leslie

Patricialesli@gmail.com