The 106th Veterans Day parade in Bakersfield celebrated service members and their families with a theme of “Our Veterans, Our Families, Our Heroes.”
Ricardo Ybarra, known as “Chief,” is in his 15th year as parade coordinator. A U.S. Navy veteran of 21 years, Ybarra emphasized the importance of recognizing families alongside veterans.
“When a veteran goes on deployment, it’s not just the veterans who go on deployment, so is the family,” he said. “Don’t just thank the veterans, thank the families as well.”
The parade drew families to downtown Bakersfield. There were celebrations at Liberty Park on Monday morning. On Tuesday morning, Veterans enjoyed a free breakfast at American Legion Post 26 before the parade and returned for lunch as the event concluded.
Jacquie Sullivan was the grand marshal of the Veterans Day parade. (KBAK/KBFX)
Phil Petty, general manager of Williams Cleaning Systems, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to support the community.
“This event? Is the fact that it’s giving back to the community. It’s huge,” he said.
Williams Cleaning Systems provided food for over 700 attendees, serving burgers and tri-tip sandwiches.
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Reflecting on the day’s success, Ybarra said, “Right now, I’m just chilling. The parade is over, and everything went well. What more can I ask for?”