WATERVLIET ARSENAL, N.Y. -- On a cool, crisp November morning, with Americana bunting hanging from the sides of floats and American flags waiving in the wind, the Watervliet Arsenal inched up to the starting point in ThursdayAca,!a,,cs Veterans Day Parade through the streets of Albany, N.Y.
It may have seemed strange to some who lined the streets that morning to see the presence of the Arsenal quietly uncoil itself amidst the turmoil of more than 1,200 parade participants, each clamoring to move forward.
Why strange' Despite having been in continuous operations since the War of 1812, this was only the second time the Arsenal had participated in the Albany parade. Therefore, the ArsenalAca,!a,,cs participation was a novelty to many who lined the streets and to many who work at the Arsenal.
The ArsenalAca,!a,,cs parade contingent was an eclectic group of volunteers who represented the ArsenalAca,!a,,cs manufacturing workforce, the U.S. ArmyAca,!a,,cs BenAfAt Laboratories, American Legion from Nassau, N.Y., the Arsenal Business & Technology Partnership, and the Hudson-Mohawk Military Vehicle Collectors Club, and the local National Federation of Federal Employees Union.
As the Arsenal contingent proudly moved down Central Avenue in front of thousands of onlookers, many of the older residents started telling people who were standing next to them about their memories of the Arsenal. Some of the story telling was done by grandparents who brought their grandkids to the parade. So, the effect of the ArsenalAca,!a,,cs participation rekindled countless fond memories for some, while creating new experiences for others.
But for this one day, for this one purpose, they came together to not only lead the City of AlbanyAca,!a,,cs parade to honor our NationAca,!a,,cs Veterans, but also to field the paradeAca,!a,,cs largest contingent. The Arsenal fielded two floats, 16 other vehicles, and more than 100 personnel.
Although it may have been humbling to some in the ArsenalAca,!a,,cs parade contingent to see hundreds of Veterans saluting them as they moved down the 1.5 mile parade route Aca,!" after all the parade was for the Veterans Aca,!" it was a powerful reminder about just how much our Veterans love their country and those who serve as Soldiers or as Department of the Army Civilians.
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