LORAIN, Ohio – Thousands of people lined the streets of downtown Lorain — and it’s a sight that takes Karen Cassidy’s breath away.
The Vermilion native heads the neighboring city every year for the annual Memorial Day parade.
“I come out here to honor the veterans in memory of my dad and brother and husband,” she said with tears in her eyes. “And to be with family, to be with family. I do it every year.”
“My dad was in the Army. My brother was in the Army. My husband was in the Navy,” Cassidy added. “Just the proudness, the patriotism. A lot of emotion.”
The crowd cheered on police, firefighters and military personnel who marched on Broadway Avenue Monday morning.
”We first of all don’t want to lose the meaning of Memorial Day,” said Pastor Terrance Bivins of Lorain. “We want to make sure we remember all those who’ve gone before us and our families in the military and those who’ve stood up for us. “
“As we come and we observe this, we take a moment out to reflect of all those good things that’s happening in life and are thankful to God of those who’ve gone before us who made the way and paid the way for us.”