Milwaukee held its 42nd annual Veterans Day Parade on Saturday, but the local chapter of Veterans for Peace was not allowed to march under their organization title.
John Zutz, leader of the chapter, said parade organizers did not provide a reason for why the group was not allowed to march other than the fact that his group's "name was basically a political statement." But according to him, the group's members were "definitely locked out."
Zutz did, however, attend the parade as a spectator.
When Mary Ann D'Acquisto, president of the Veterans Day Parade of Milwaukee Inc., was asked why the group could not participate, she said the veterans weren't refused the right to march, but the organization itself was. Group members were invited to present their rationale to the advisory committee, which voted not to include the group, she said.
The committee allowed the group members to join in the parade with the other veteran groups that they belonged to, but they all refused.
In response to Veterans for Peace's problem with other political officials marching in the parade, D'Acquisto said the officials were there to honor the veterans and were not allowed to promote themselves. If they did, "they would have been asked to leave," she said.
"If we start letting anti-war groups in the parade, then we would have to let in the pro-war groups as well," D'Acquisto said. She said there was a potential for riots if this were to happen.
Hundreds of people came out to Kilbourn Avenue to watch the parade in which the guests of honor were women veterans, including Brig. Gen. Wilma L. Vaught, the parade's Grand Marshal and a retired member of the U.S. Air Force.
Vaught is one of the most decorated military women in history and is now president of the Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation, a Washington, D.C.-based memorial honoring women veterans. The memorial recognizes the stories of the approximately 1.8 million women who have served in the armed forces.
Paradegoers who chose to sit on the walkway of the War Memorial Center, 750 N. Lincoln Memorial Dr., watched as parade announcer Ken Leidel called off the names of each participant. Attendees at the parade saw roaring Harley-Davidson motorcycles, baton twirlers and junior cadets chanting as they marched. Area high school marching bands and flag teams performed throughout the parade route, which started at Fourth Street and Kilbourn Avenue, turned at Prospect Avenue and ended at the War Memorial Center.
Vendors sold refreshments as red, white and blue bead necklaces were thrown to the crowd. An air salute over the parade caught the attention of children as well as parents. A real-life portrayal of the famed photograph of soldiers hoisting an American flag on Iwo Jima almost tricked the watchers until one of the men made a slight movement.
The female veterans being honored waved from a trolley and seemed to enjoy the attention. One enthusiastic parade attendee shouted to them, "Thank you for serving!"
Milwaukee residents Gerald and Mary De Chant sat and watched the parade as they have done in the past. Due to the cold weather, they hadn't come in recent years. When asked what brought them out to the parade on Saturday, Gerald simply said, "I am a veteran." The Korean War Air Force veteran had come to watch just as many other veterans had.
An essay contest was held prior to the parade for students in grades five through eight to interview a veteran and then write an essay about their service. The winners of the contest rode in military police vehicles in the parade. Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett also participated in the parade, among other city officials and Congressmen.
Other events for the day included a memorial service at the War Memorial Center's reflecting pool. The Milwaukee Art Museum gave free tours to all veterans, active military personnel and their families. In addition, a concert by the Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Concert Band was held that evening at the center.