Idaho Veterans Day parade commemorates Vietnam War vets 50 years after its end
In front of the Idaho State Capitol steps on Saturday morning, the street was lined with people waving American flags as historic military vehicles and military personnel both current and former made their way through downtown.
The annual Idaho Veterans Day parade, held a few days before the national holiday this year, honors those who have served in all armed forces of the U.S. military.
The parade’s mission is to recognize veterans’ sacrifices and heighten community appreciation of military service, its website states.
This year’s parade held particular significance, keynote speaker Christina Olds said, as it commemorates 50 years since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975.
Olds said she remembered when her father, who fought in the Vietnam War, came home. She said it was difficult for her father to come home because all veterans, her father included, “carried the weight of a war that for too long divided a nation.”
“It has reminded us that whatever our politics, we owe an unshakable debt to those who put on the uniform, followed orders and gave their all,” Olds told the crowd. “They did not choose the mission, they chose to serve, and that above all is what we honor.”
The parade had over 200 organizations involved, including ones with historic military vehicles, local veterans’ organization, high school marching bands, current members of the U.S. Air Force and Army, and local police and fire departments.
Each year, the parade organization invites all military, veteran and civic organizations, as well as many universities, high schools, junior high schools, youth groups throughout the Treasure Valley and encourage marching bands, floats, boys and girl scout units to participate.
The parade started at Jefferson and Eighth Street went past the Idaho State Capitol, along Fourth Street and down Bannock Street. Parade participants waved to the crowd, honked their horns and handed out candy as they went by.
Those who watched from the sidelines came out to show their support for veterans, family members who served, and some commemorated themselves as veterans.
Larita Miranda, a Meridian woman who served in the Air Force for over 20 years, came to the parade with her son and donned a shirt that said “Stop Soldier Suicide.” She told the Statesman that she recently lost a friend who served with her, and she is advocating for veterans’ mental health resources.
Miranda said she and many of her friends who served have faced struggles since returning home.
“When you come home, you are not really coming home. That is why supporting veterans is so important,” Miranda said.
Today was bittersweet for her, she said. It was a tough reminder of the difficulties she and other veterans have faced, but ultimately she was proud to see so many people’s support.
Another woman, Katie Quinn stood with her grandson holding a sign that read “We love our Veterans.”
Quinn comes from a family of veterans, and she told the Statesman that today she was honoring them and an uncle who she lost to the Vietnam War.
“We had to come to show they aren’t forgotten. They cannot be forgotten,” she said.
Some are worried about current members of the U.S. military not receiving pay amid the current government shutdown.
Many federal workers have been furloughed or are working without pay since durint the shutdown. Military personnel received their most recent paycheck on Nov. 1, but it is unclear whether they will receive their next payment on Nov. 15 unless the shutdown ends.
Miranda said she’s worried about those in the military receiving their next paycheck, who she says already try to make ends meet.
“They are hardly paid as is,” she said. “You don’t join the military to become a millionaire. It’s already difficult, and I am worried about them.”
This story was originally published November 8, 2025 at 4:27 PM.
