Honoring the sacrifice
Hammond celebrates Veterans Day Saturday under cold, sunny skies with parade
American flags flew and sirens blared along Hessville streets Saturday in Hammond under cold and sunny skies as the city celebrated Veterans Day with a parade.
A Lima Lima two-plane flight team buzzed above the parade, which ended at the Hessville Park Veterans Memorial at 173rd Street and Kennedy Avenue where a short ceremony followed in a heated tent.
Outside the tent, visitors signed a huge “thank you” banner that will be sent to active troops.
Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. said today’s politically charged atmosphere makes Americans feel like they’re in a divided country.
“When you’re in the trenches, you’re not surrounded by Demo-
crats or Republicans. You’re surrounded by Americans,” said McDermott, a six-year Navy veteran.
McDermott introduced parade grand marshal Lake County Assessor Jerome Prince, of Gary, a Marine veteran. Prince said the day marked the 243rd birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps.
“This is probably the greatest honor that anyone can pay a person, to come into a city and represent all the veterans,” Prince said. “Our military remains strong today and every day, they continue to make the ultimate sacrifice.
“Sometimes, they don’t make it home and nothing can be done to acknowledge the hole that’s left.”
Prince said Saturday’s parade represented a commitment and tribute to lost troops who served from the Revolutionary War to Afghanistan.
“We honor and support you,” he said.
After the ceremony, both McDermott and Prince, who are Democrats, criticized President Donald Trump’s recent call to mobilize about 15,000 troops to the southern border because a caravan of Central American refugees is heading toward the U.S.
Trump characterized the people in the caravan as “invaders” at recent campaign rallies.
“I think it’s a stunt,” McDermott said. “To activate thousands of military personnel; it’s offensive.”
Prince called the move political posturing.
“To send 15,000 troops is a complete waste,” he said.