Knoxville Honors Veterans in the 2024 Veterans Day Parade

The 2024 Veterans Day Parade made its way down Gay Street, yesterday. Stepping off at 10:40 in order to arrive at the grand stand by 11:00 am. The 11:00 am marker remains important as the day was originally celebrated as Armistice Day in honor of the cessation of hostilities that ended World War I at 11:00 am on the eleventh day of the eleventh month. The day eventually shifted to simply honor veterans.

And Knoxville honors veterans with a lengthy parade that begins with a prayer, the national anthem, the playing of taps, a twenty-one gun salute, and a swearing in of new members of the military. This year’s induction, which took place on Gay Street at the grand stand, included twenty-four new recruits to the United States Air Force.

The parade itself is a mashup of everything you could imagine in a parade. Active and, particularly, past members of the military from World War II through the present march or ride and are honored by large crowds. But there are also high school marching bands and ROTC groups. Car and motorcycle groups ride in large numbers, with Corvettes, muscle cars, Harleys, Mustangs and more.

More in keeping with the theme, a number of military vehicles participate, including a very cool World War One (I’m guessing) era submarine. There are military dogs, military family members, female veterans groups, the Daughters of the American Revolution, a wide range of local companies with their employees who are (or are not) veterans, the local Democratic Party, and on it goes.

Groups that work with veterans march. Dance groups, bagpipe groups, Kerbela members, firemen, policemen, and flag corps. Above it all, a large American flag dangles over Gay Street suspended by a crane. You can’t say we don’t bring it.

Enjoy the pictures included here. These are some of my favorites. I’m including the whole trove below.