Aurora Veterans Day parade in downtown Aurora Saturday, Nov. 11 includes Lady Liberty, left, and Uncle Sam, right, portrayals. Another new addition was the “living soldier statue,” center, who remained posed for the duration of the event and posed for photos with fans after the festivities.Jason Crane/The VoiceThe beautiful weather, magnetic energy, and patriot pride, were all beaming Saturday, Nov. 11 in Aurora. A record-setting crowd gathered to honor our Nation’s heroes on Veterans Day. The theme of Aurora’s parade was “Serving Our Country and Serving Our Community,” and the rounds of applause for those veterans who have done just that were consistent during the 90-minute parade and ceremony. Parade spectators cheered the participants as though they were rock stars, from the most senior member of the parade, 97-year-old WWII veteran Dick Miller, below, to the young East Aurora NJROTC, the Marmion Academy Drill Team, and the Lincoln’s Challenge Academy Drum Corps.Jason Crane/The VoiceRecipients of the 2023 Meritorious Service Awards went to: Left to right, Greg Zilioli, founder of A Call to Arms, a non-profit dedicated to helping veterans learn new skills to earn additional income, USMC Veteran and coach and community advocate Gil Rios, USMC Veteran and 84th District State Representative Stephanie Kifowit, and guest speaker, Army Veteran, and local faith leader Pastor Talaat McNeely, who challenged the crowd to offer veterans words of thanks and acts of gratitude for their service.Jason Crane/The Voice
