Veterans Day parade stirs emotions in Petaluma

Luis Luevano and his family have lived in Petaluma for almost three decades, and for as long as he can remember, they’ve always gone to the Veterans Day parade.

About 300 groups marked the parade’s 30th anniversary, lining up behind the color guard to march from Walnut Park, up Fourth Street, and then back down Petaluma Boulevard.

Luevano, his wife, daughter, son-in-law and grandson were camped out across the street from the Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, right near the announcer. They laughed and cheered as high school marching bands streamed by, Salvation Army workers passed out candy and groups of giggling Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts ran out of the parade and into the crowd, handing out handmade thank-you cards to veterans.

Luevano, a 64-year-old U.S. Army veteran who served in Vietnam, got two cards while standing in the audience, which he smiled at and showed off to his family.

They watched the tanks; they watched the Clydesdales; they watched the Corvettes all in a line carrying American veterans from foreign wars, one of them 100 years old.

In another of the cars rode Darrel Shumard, a 94-year-old Army Air Corps veteran who served in World War II.

He was flying a fighter plane over Germany when his plane collided with another. Shumard bailed out and was captured by the German forces, held as a captive from Feb. 14, 1945, until he was liberated on April 29, 1945.

“I feel that it’s so important to remember all the people that have made sacrifices for the United States,” Luevano said, watching the cars pass, his 11-year-old grandson at his side.

“We had the honor, the opportunity to serve our country,” Luevano said.

“And we made it better.”

You can reach Staff Writer Christi Warren at 707-521-5205 or christi.warren@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @SeaWarren.