ST. LOUIS – The 31st St. Louis Veteran’s Day Parade wound through the streets of St. Louis on Saturday afternoon. Thousands descended on downtown to celebrate “Heroes Remembered: Celebrating 250 Years as a City and All Who Served.”
Active duty and retired service members from all military branches were represented, along with contingents representing every conflict where Americans served.
Queuing near the Moolah Drum Corps and Tuskegee Airman was the The St. Louis LGBT Military and Veteran’s Group, headed by Retired United States Air Force Master Sergeant Steve Zeiger. This was the second consecutive year the group has participated in the parade.
“I’m prouder than proud,” said Zeiger, who is also Chair of the St. Louis Veteran's Day Parade. “This is the second time we’ve walked in the Veteran’s Day Parade carrying our flags celebrating our LGBT status. The planning process has been intense and tedious, but it’s all been worth it.”
In 2002, the now defunct Mid America Pride Veteran’s were the first LGBT contingent to march in the annual parade.