Thousands lined the street along the Embarcadero on Monday morning to witness the 33rd annual Veterans Day Parade.
The roads became a venue for showcasing local student marching bands, veterans organizations and, of course, veterans.
Retired Army officer Leo Boeche said he attends the parade each year to hear stories from other veterans and for the opportunity to wear his uniform.
"It’s always a great honor to put the uniform on," he said. "It always feels like I’m putting on something that's in some ways a shield, in some ways a badge of honor."
The parade featured a performance by the Nassau County Police Emerald Society Pipe Band and the horses and riders of the Scripps Miramar Saddlebreds. Organizations like the USS Midway Museum and the American Legion marched in the parade alongside floats of planes and aircraft carriers.
Long-time parade attendees like Boeche want the next generation of servicemen and women to know that his sacrifices came with the biggest rewards.
"You realize that we’re just regular guys, trying to do a job and you’re doing it for something that’s bigger than you," he said. "When you’ve accomplished that, it’s just the greatest feeling to know that I served my country."
