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Thousands of families show appreciation for veterans at Jacksonville parade

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — American flags in hand, dozens of kids sat watching marching bands, fire engines and service members in uniform go by.

“I really like to see the old military vehicles,” Reese Durfee said.

The 10-year-old told Action News Jax that he knows the parade is about much more.

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“The whole purpose is to thank the veterans for what they did for us and without them we probably wouldn’t have freedom,” he said.

Action News Jax Brittney Donovan spent the morning getting to know the men and women the parade honors, including an Army National Guard Special Forces team stationed at Camp Blanding.

“It always tugs at the heart strings,” Sgt. 1st Class Jason Huber said. “You see the old guys that retired and got out, particularly the Vietnam vets, they never really got this.”

While the parade was full of smiles, veterans told Action News Jax some days are much more difficult.

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“There’s a lot you hear about depression and anxiety,” Air Force and Army National Guard veteran Leslie De La Serna said. “I went through that coming back from Afghanistan.”

Monday was a chance for families to say thank you.

“What we did, we didn’t do it for ourselves,” Navy and Coast Guard veteran John Coltrane said. “We did it for this country.”

They say a simple “thank you” – no matter what day of the year – can mean so much.