SCRANTON, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Army National Guard started the Armed Forces Day Parade in downtown Scranton with its members' musical talents.
People watched from the sidelines as high school bands, humvees, Champ, and, of course, men and women who serve marched through the Electric City for the first time since 2019.
"It's back! These men and women they do so much for us. They do so much for us, you know, fighting for our country and still fighting, and it feels so good to be back," said Jeff Moran, Scranton.
David Kern remembers marching in the 1954 Armed Forces Day Parade when he was in the Navy, "It's nice to see that people are again paying tribute to the people in the service as, for a period of time, that wasn't the case."
People waved their flags with pride as the parade went by.
Anne-Marie Frano showed her pride by walking in the parade. She has a nephew in the Air Force.
"At Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico, so we're doing this to support all the veterans and our nephew," said Anne-Marie Frano, South Abington Township.
Antique cars made their way down Lackawanna Avenue.
Like Frano, many of those who came to enjoy the parade were showing their support to family members in the Armed Forces.
"Well, we do have a son that's in the military. He is stationed overseas right now, so anytime we get the opportunity to welcome and appreciate our armed forces, then we find those parades, and we come out and do so," said Allison Parry, Salem Township.
Even little ones came out to show their support, "Yeah. The Army guys," said Grady and Max Scarfl, Lackawanna County.
Despite the rainy weather, the parade went on, and people lined Courthouse Square to show their support.
"Great, great, great. You know, this is Scranton, PA. Best place in the world to live. You know, USA, just glad people came out," said Hugh Anthony Cusick, Scranton.
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