Albany hosted the 75th annual Linn County Veterans Day Parade on November 11, bringing together local residents, military organizations, and community leaders to honor those who served.
The milestone event featured a wide array of participants, from high school marching bands to historic military vehicles, as crowds gathered along the parade route. According to reporting from the Statesman Journal, the celebration included various local groups such as the Oregon City High School marching band and the Lebanon High School marching band.
The parade connected multiple generations of the community. Spectators, including the Perrizo family of Albany, lined the streets to watch the procession, while children waved American flags and held signs thanking veterans for their service.
Community members honor military service
The procession moved through key areas including Lyon Street and Pacific Boulevard SE, showcasing a mix of traditional and ceremonial elements. Lebanon High School Army JROTC Warrior Battalion cadets carried portraits of fallen service members, adding to the solemnity of the occasion.
Musical performances provided a rhythmic backdrop to the event. The Willamette Valley Pipes & Drums and U.S. Army musicians performed for the assembled crowds, while the Linn County Sheriff’s Mounted Posse rode on horseback through the route.
Individual moments of gratitude were visible throughout the afternoon. A Girl Scout was seen thanking U.S. Army veteran Archie Walter, who served as a medic, for his service. Other participants included:
- Motorcyclists riding with American flags.
- A patriotic float featuring inflatable eagles.
- An Albany firefighter waving to spectators.
- A float dedicated to honoring various branches of the U.S. military.
Local leadership was also represented in the festivities. Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis, R-Albany, and members of the Albany City Council were among those seen waving to the spectators as the parade passed.
A tradition of local remembrance
The 75th anniversary of this parade highlights a long-standing tradition of civic engagement in Linn County. Beyond the spectacle of the floats and the marching bands, the event functioned as a public forum for acknowledging the human cost of military service through the presence of veterans and the display of memorial portraits.
The involvement of local youth, such as the Lebanon cadets and children riding on fire engines, suggests a continued effort to pass the tradition of remembrance to younger generations. As the parade concluded, the visibility of both historic military vehicles and modern community responders like the Albany fire department reflected the community’s dual focus on honoring the past and celebrating current civic service.
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