Danny Ramos stood and cheered on Broad Street on Tuesday morning as he watched the Veterans Day parade with his daughter.

Mr. Ramos, a 56-year-old Vietnam War veteran, said he had brought his daughter so she could understand the importance of honoring veterans.

"Veterans Day is a special day where Americans give something back to veterans," Mr. Ramos said. "It's a day of recognition."

For Mason Richardson Jr., 74, a Korean War veteran, the parade served as a reminder of a day that holds double significance.

"Today specifically represents my father and the Armistice. My father was in France on Nov. 11, 1918, and he stayed over as part of the army of occupation. He always celebrated Armistice Day," Mr. Richardson said.

The day was also important to Mr. Richardson because he arrived home from Korea on Nov. 11, 1953.

Don Murray, a former Marine and commandant of the Lt. Col. Jimmie A. Dyess Detachment of the Marine Corps League, was also downtown to watch the parade. Mr. Murray said Veterans Day is a chance to emphasize the call to service.

"It's a chance to show the younger generations that, although we have served, we don't give up. We always remember and pass our traditions to our younger generations so that they will answer when it is their time to serve, whether it's to serve in the military, in the police corps, as a first responder or as a local, state or national politician."

Family members of veterans also were at the parade.

Margaret Henderson said she was at the parade to honor her son, a veteran of the Persian Gulf War, and her niece, who is serving overseas.

"I celebrated Veterans Day at church, and I'm celebrating it here. I always enjoy celebrating the people who served our country," she said. "They deserve it."