Michael Leonard of Hartselle, a kindergarten student at Crestline Elementary, shows his appreciation to veterans during the annual Veterans Parade held Saturday in Hartselle. According to his parents, Leonard wants to be a soldier when he grows up. | Randy Garrison

More than 2,000 people attended and participated in the third annual Hartselle Veterans Parade in downtown Hartselle Saturday morning.

Ret. Col. John Frank Parker of the Alabama Army National Guard delivered the keynote address during the ceremony.

“On this Veterans Day, let us remember that as a nation and a free people, we are where we are today because when those powers and governments sought to destroy us and our way of life, it was the veterans who stood in the gap, stood fast to preserve, protect and defend our way of life,” Parker told the crowd gathered for pre-parade program in front of the historic depot.

Once the program was completed, veterans either marched or rode in the parade as residents saluted them.

All of the local high school marching bands were able to participate in the parade.