ARCADIAN PHOTO BY SUSAN E. HOFFMAN, shoffman@sun-herald.com
Children and staff of the Early Childhood Center walk down West Oak Street decked out in red, white and blue.

ARCADIAN PHOTO BY SUSAN E. HOFFMAN, shoffman@sun-herald.com
DeSoto County School Superintendent Adrian Cline waves to the crowd during the Veterans Parade in Arcadia.

ARCADIAN PHOTO BY SUSAN E. HOFFMAN, shoffman@sun-herald.com
The Vietnam Brotherhood is well represented in the Veterans Day Parade Monday in Arcadian.

ARCADIAN PHOTO BY SUSAN E. HOFFMAN, shoffman@sun-herald.com
DeSoto County High School's JROTC unit marches down West Oak Street Monday.

ARCADIAN PHOTO BY SUSAN E. HOFFMAN, shoffman@sun-herald.com
Members of DeSoto County High School's Junior ROTC march along West Oak Street displaying the colors.

ARCADIAN PHOTO BY SUSAN E. HOFFMAN, shoffman@sun-herald.com
The DeSoto County Veterans Honor Guard leads the parade down West Oak Street Monday morning.

ARCADIAN PHOTO BY SUSAN E. HOFFMAN, shoffman@sun-herald.com

Memvbers of each branch of the armed services stand to be recognized during the Veterans Day ceremony in front of the courthouse.

ARCADIAN PHOTO BY SUSAN E. HOFFMAN, shoffman@sun-herald.com

DeSoto County Commissioner Jim Selph, a Vietnam veteran, said, "I would never have imagined a Vietnam solider would speak before a crowd," remembering how they were treated when they returned during the 1960s. "Now I look at pictures of my grandchildren every day and am so thankful. I think of all those who never lived to have grandchildren." Selph was the guest speaker for the Veterans Day ceremony.

ARCADIAN PHOTO BY SUSAN E. HOFFMAN, shoffman@sun-herald.com

DeSoto County Commissioners hold up the Blue Star flag presented to the county by the leaders of each of the veterans service organizations. Lee Gallagher, veteran service officer, said the flag will be flown until every missing DeSoto service member is returned to the county.

PHOTO BY JOHN BLACK

Students make their way to the Veterans Day Parade from their school. The schools were in session on Veterans Day so the students would be able to take part in the parade.

PHOTO BY JOHN BLACK

From above, students marching in the parade look like a sea of red, white and blue on West Oak Street.

ARCADIAN PHOTO BY SUSAN E. HOFFMAN, shoffman@sun-herald.com

Children and staff of the Early Childhood Center walk down West Oak Street decked out in red, white and blue.

ARCADIAN PHOTO BY SUSAN E. HOFFMAN, shoffman@sun-herald.com

The ARC Angels show their support for our troops and vedterans during Monday's Veterans Day Parade.

ARCADIAN PHOTO BY SUSAN E. HOFFMAN, shoffman@sun-herald.com

Memorial Elementary School students march enthusiastically down West Oak Street wearing patriotic top hats.

ARCADIAN PHOTO BY SUSAN E. HOFFMAN, shoffman@sun-herald.com

West Elementary School students wear their handmade patriotic hats as they march in Monday's Veterans Day Parade.

ARCADIAN PHOTO BY SUSAN E. HOFFMAN, shoffman@sun-herald.com

Several students from West Elementary School wear some snazzy patriotic sunglasses during the parade Monday.

ARCADIAN PHOTO BY SUSAN E. HOFFMAN, shoffman@sun-herald.com

To show their patriotism, some students display posters featuring former United States Presidents during the Veterans Day parade.

ARCADIAN PHOTO BY SUSAN E. HOFFMAN, shoffman@sun-herald.com

Nocatee Elementary School students wear special patriotic hats they made just for the occasion.

ARCADIAN PHOTO BY SUSAN E. HOFFMAN, shoffman@sun-herald.com

School Superintendent-elect Karyn Gary waves from the back of a pickup in the Arcadia Veterans Day Parade.

ARCADIAN PHOTO BY SUSAN E. HOFFMAN, shoffman@sun-herald.com

Children line West Oak Street as the rest of tghe Veterans Day parade passes by them.

ARCADIAN PHOTO BY SUSAN E. HOFFMAN, shoffman@sun-herald.com

Children line Oak Street in front of the courthouse waiting for the rest of the parade to catch up.

ARCADIAN PHOTO BY SUSAN E. HOFFMAN, shoffman@sun-herald.com

A veteran uses his cell phone to snap photos along Oak Street during the Veterans Day Parade.

ARCADIAN PHOTO BY SUSAN E. HOFFMAN, shoffman@sun-herald.com

Volunteers from the Vietnam Brotherhood hand out hot dogs and water to all the Veterans Day Parade participants Monday in front of the courthouse.

ARCADIAN PHOTO BY SUSAN E. HOFFMAN, shoffman@sun-herald.com

Old Glory and the POW-MIA flag fly proudly over the DeSoto County Courthouse during Monday's Veterans Day ceremonies.

ARCADIAN PHOTO BY SUSAN E. HOFFMAN, shoffman@sun-herald.com

DeSoto County Veteran Service Officer Lee Gallagher, left, bows his head as the Rev. Robert Thomas gives the invocation during Monday's Veterans Day Ceremony.l

ARCADIAN PHOTO BY SUSAN E. HOFFMAN, shoffman@sun-herald.com

In the foreground, the DeSoto County Veterans Honor Guard members bow their heads in prayer during the Veterans Day ceremony in front of the courthouse.

ARCADIAN PHOTO BY SUSAN E. HOFFMAN, shoffman@sun-herald.com

The DeSoto County High School Blazing Blue Band plays the signature songs of the four branches of the service during Monday's Veterans Day ceremony.