Veterans receive place of honor at Racine Holiday Parade

RACINE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The Racine Holiday Parade is the second Saturday of November, which means about every seven years or so, it lands on Veterans Day.

Which is why veterans, every one of them, got a place of honor at Racine's 2023 Holiday Parade as Grand Marshals. 

Amanda Putzer is an Army veteran. She started the day early, prepping for the parade by decorating a trailer in red, white and blue, for veterans who wanted to ride. 

"We want them all there because we couldn't have parades without them, if it wasn't for their bravery we wouldn't have these freedoms," said Putzer.

Military runs deep in Putzer's family tree. She signed the dotted line on Oct. 2001, a month after the 9/11 attacks.

"I joined the United States Army after 9/11. It definitely bothered me," said Putzer. 

Years later, days like these make her smile. 

 "I just want to say thank you to all my brothers and sisters from the military services all branches, we're all family," said Putzer.

The Downtown Racine Corporation says this year's holiday parade had the best turnout yet, with a crowd estimated at 8,000.