Thousands of spectators lined Auburn's Main Street to thank service members and veterans for their service during the 50th annual Auburn Veterans Day Parade, Nov. 7.

Capt. William Bullis, commander, Navy Region Northwest chief of staff from Long Island, New York, represented the Navy for this year's parade.

"I feel I am representing the entire Navy," said Bullis. "Not just everyone in the Navy right now, but all the generations that have gone before us that have made the Navy what it is today."

Bullis, along with veterans from the Navy and other services, marched past masses of spectators during the mile-long extravaganza representing different eras of U.S. military service.

The town of Auburn is recognized by the National Veterans Day Committee and the Department of Defense as a regional site for the annual celebration. Auburn has hosted a Veterans Day parade since 1965.

"We are grateful to live in a free country," said Nancy Backus, Mayor of Auburn. "Let's remember how lucky we are to live in a country where you can travel freely around borders, a country that allows you to go to any church of your choice and a country that allows you to have a voice and speak freely."

Bullis, escorted by a personal driver, was one of a dozen distinguished visitors representing military services from local commands.

"My father is from Latvia and my mother from Italy," said Bullis. "I was the first born here in the states and the first to serve in the armed forces. It's an honor to be here representing Navy Region Northwest."

The mile-long parade featured nearly 250 entries, included more than 25 marching bands, drill teams, honor guards, veterans' floats, antique military vehicles, and the pleasure of seeing disabled veterans play golf from their golf carts.

"I consider Veterans Day an amazing opportunity to recognize everyone who has gone before us, sacrifices big and small to serve our nation," said Bullis. "I also had the chance to reconnect with one of my Naval Academy classmates."

Although Veterans Day lands on and is observed on a Wednesday this year, the town of Auburn held its annual parade on a Saturday.

"I've been coming to this parade every year since I've been out of the Marine Corps," said Elia Tumupopo, a Marine Corps veteran from Auburn, Washington. "I've brought my daughter along to pass down the tradition and for her to start learning how important it is to recognize our veterans."

Veterans Day is one of ten Federal Holidays observed by the U.S. Navy. For more information on when these holidays occur, visit: http://aa.usno.navy.mil/faq/docs/holidays.php.

For more news from Navy Public Affairs Support Element, visit www.navy.mil/.