Vandenberg Airmen march on Torrance in Armed Forces Day Parade

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Levi Riendeau
  • 30th Space Wing Public Affairs
TORRANCE, Calif. --  Some 25 Airmen from Vandenberg Air Force Base stepped out for the public in the 53rd Annual Armed Forces Day Parade here May 19.

Vandenberg members used the day as an opportunity to show their appreciation for the support received by the community.

"With this we gave them a thank you," said Master Sgt. Yogi Ybarra, 30th Civil Engineer Squadron water and fuel systems maintenance chief. "I think the impact is overwhelming to them because they know that we appreciate their support."

The day started off with an all-services Reveille Ceremony with more than 200 service members from the five military branches participating.

After a quick lunch, the services formed up to get ready for the parade.

The city of Torrance honored the U.S. Air Force in this year's parade, with Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley serving as grand marshal for the event.

"That he came out here to see us and shake our hands was incredible," said Airman 1st Class Darian Tannis, 30th Space Wing Judge Advocate military justice paralegal. "You got to see the person behind the name and see that he appreciates us."

More than 350 Air Force members marched approximately one mile from Crenshaw Boulevard to Madrona Avenue showing their appreciation to more than 100,000 people lined on both sides of the street.

Tannis said, "It was really cool to see all the different services and people supporting this event."

The annual parade, which originated in 1960, is hailed as being the nation's longest running military parade sponsored by any city in the United States.

"It was a two-way street kind of gratitude; these people came to show their gratitude and we signed up to fight for them," Tannis said. "It's good for them to see that we're there for them the same way they're there for us."

 

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