The 82nd annual Veterans Day parade by the American Legion Knoxville Post 2 was held on Gay Street in Downtown Knoxville at 10:45 a.m. on Nov. 9 in front of many spectators.

The parade showcased many local veterans. Among those were the Tennessee State Veterans, Marine Corps League, Disabled American Vets, Pearl Harbor Survivor Association of Vets and Desert Storm Vets.  

Local high school marching bands and JROTC groups filled in much of the parade line. Among them in order of appearance in the parade were Anderson County, Carter, Central, Gibbs, Farragut, Austin-East, West, Karns, Fulton, South Doyle and Bearden.

A highlight of the parade was a drive through of classic cars from the Smoky Mountain Mobile A Club, many with veteran drivers. The drivers blew their horns for on-lookers as they drove through.

During the parade, flyovers took place high above the spectators' heads. The planes swooped down over Gay Street before flying up and around to come in for a repeat visit.

Some other participants in the parade were the Knoxville Police Department, the Cades Cove Preservation Association, the U.S. Army Reserve 844th Engineers Battalion, Regions Bank and WIVK.

While some veterans participated in the parade, others stood to the side and watched.

John A. Brown, a veteran of World War II, said, "I just like to come by and see the parade instead of riding in it." Brown spent 26 months overseas in Australia, New Guinea, the Phillipines and Japan.

"I like the bands and the army, the ROTC, and just watching them march on through," he said.