After success in St. Louis, more cities consider parades for Iraq vets
A St. Louis parade welcoming home Iraq War and other post-Sept. 11 veterans was such a hit that at least 10 other cities around the country are considering similar celebrations, The Associated Press reported.
The civilian organizers told AP they have been contacted by people from Chicago, Denver, Philadelphia, San Antonio, Oklahoma City, Seattle, Tucson, Ariz., Nashville, Tenn., Greensboro, N.C., and Clinton, Iowa interested in staging more parades.
The St. Louis parade, on Jan. 28, was a grass-roots effort that cost less than $40,000, AP said. It drew an estimated 100,000 observers and 20,000 participants.
Some have questioned if parades are appropriate given the ongoing war on terrorism. Last month, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said his city wouldn't be holding any official parades for Iraq War vets because military leaders object.
Read more about the St. Louis parade and the efforts to spread parades to other cities
