Warren County Central High School Reserve Officers’ Training Corps marches in the Bowling Green Veterans Day Parade on Saturday. ALBERT CESARE/ HERALD

A crowd lined the streets of downtown Bowling Green on Saturday morning for the city’s Veterans Day parade.

Children laughed as they waved little American flags and caught candy thrown to them from city officials. People working in the shops downtown came outside to watch the parade pass.

Many veterans stood in the crowd. Some wore full military uniforms while others wore hats that told which war they had fought in.

Western’s cheerleaders and dance team, along with Big Red, took part in the parade. Franklin senior Jessica Curtis, a member of the dance team, said she was glad to support the veterans of Bowling Green.

“It’s fun and it’s a good way to be involved in the community to thank them for all they’ve done for us,” she said.

Gilbert Boyd, a retired Marine and a senior naval science instructor for Greenwood High School’s Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, said he’s proud to support his fellow veterans.

He said he has been part of the parade for the last nine years and plans on being involved with the parade as long as he can.

“Bowling Green is a great community,” Boyd said. “There’s a whole lot of Marines in town. We’ve got a big marine family here.”

Western’s ROTC didn’t participate in the Veterans Day parade because of a scheduling conflict with Western’s Homecoming, said department head Lt. Col. Jason Caldwell.

The department will host a celebration at 11 a.m. on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, at Guthrie Bell Tower, he said. They’ll induct two people into the ROTC Hall of Fame.

The inductees are retired Brig. Gen. Alan E. Grise, who graduated from Western in 1976, and retired U.S. Army Capt. Larry G. Loftis, who graduated from Western in 1968, Caldwell said.

Fiscal Court Clerk Brenda Hale said the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1298 will host a recognition luncheon at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11 at the VFW Post, 1965 Highway 185.

Veterans and their families are welcome at the luncheon, which will honor Vietnam veterans.

The Western dance team and cheerleading squad and Big Red participated in the Bowling Green Veterans Day Parade on Saturday. ALBERT CESARE/ HERALD