St. Louis (KSDK) - Thousands of people lined Market Street in downtown St. Louis for the Welcome Home Heroes Parade that honored troops who fought in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
St. Louis is the first city in the nation to host a big welcome home parade for Iraq veterans since the troops left Iraq in December.
The Welcome Home Heroes Parade included more than 80 floats, two marching bands and the Budweiser Clydesdales. The parade began at noon Saturday at Kiener Plaza and ended at Union Station with a Veterans Resource Center set-up inside.
Welcome Home Heroes Parade - PHOTOS
People waived American flags and cheered "thank you" as veterans made their way down Market. People also held up Welcome Home signs.
Firetrucks hoisted three huge American flags along the route for the participants to walk under.
In addition to the parade, moving company Mayflower, a co-sponsor of the parade, collected items for homeless veterans.
The tribute began at 9:11 p.m. Friday when volunteers read the names of 6,502 men and women at Soldier's Memorial who died from injuries sustained in Iraq and Afghanistan. The reading lasted through Saturday morning.
Submit your photos from the Welcome Home Heroes Parade.
Information from the Associated Press contributed to this report.
KSDK
You Might Be Interested In