The 9th annual Veterans Parade takes place in Philadelphia

SALUTED OUR MILITARY VETERANS AHEAD OF VETERANS DAY. THE PARADE ROLLED DOWN MARKET STREET, WRAPPED UP AT NORTH FIFTH STREET. ACTION NEWS REPORTER SHARIFA JACKSON HAS MORE ON THE ANNUAL VETERANS PARADE FESTIVITIES. VOEPEL SHOW THE LONG LINE OF ABOUT 4000 MARCHERS STRETCHED FOR HALF A MILE UP MARKET STREET, ALL TO HONOR THE SERVICE AND SACRIFICE OF THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO GIVE SO MUCH TO THIS COUNTRY. >> UNCLE SAM WANTED ME, SO I WENT TO SERVE TODAY. >> VINCENT IS 81. HE JOINED THE MILITARY IN 1966, THE TIME HE SAYS HE’LL NEVER FORGET AND DESCRIBES AS MUCH

DIFFERENT THAN TODAY WHEN I WAS IN THE SERVICE, WE USED TO CHANGE OUR UNIFORM AS SOON AS WE COULD. >> NOW THE PEOPLE APPRECIATE IT. I THINK THAT’S GOOD. >> THIS IS THE NINTH YEAR FOR THE PHILADELPHIA VETERANS PARADE FOR ANOTHER YEAR. 6 ABC IS A PROUD SPONSOR HOSTED BY OUR ALICIA VITARELLI AND SHARI WILLIAMS. >> BEING HERE ALONG THE PARADE ROUTE, IT’S AMAZING ALL THE FAMILIES WE MEET, THE STORIES WE HEAR, AND WE’RE SO GRATEFUL TO THE SERVICE OF THE SERVICE MEMBERS, THE MEN AND WOMEN LIKE SHARI, WHOSE GRANDFATHER SERVED IN THE VIETNAM WAR.

>> IT’S A PERSONAL CONNECTION FOR SO MANY. >> I’VE HAD IT FOR QUITE SOME TIME. AND I YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW WHAT? I’M GOING TO WEAR MY

DAD’S SHIRT TODAY. >> DIANE MALONE IS THE DAUGHTER OF A NAVY VETERAN AND WIFE OF AN ARMY VET, IS AN EVENT SHE DOESN’T MISS. >> THEY SHOULD ALL BE HONORED. THEY THEY PROTECT US. AND THIS EVENT IS MUCH BIGGER THAN JUST A PARADE. >> THEY ALSO HAVE FOOD TRUCKS, LIVE MUSIC, JOB RESOURCES. THE EVENT, IT DRAWS PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER WHO SIMPLY WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.

>> IT’S JUST REALLY SPECIAL TO SEE THE OLD TIMERS, YOU KNOW, WE’VE GOT 100 YEAR OLD, 103 YEAR OLD AND THEN WE GOT YOUNG PEOPLE. SO THIS IS TRULY A SPECTACULAR DAY TO BRING YOUR KIDS OUT. AND WATCH WHAT FREEDOM IS IN CENTER CIT