Niceville kicks off Veterans Day celebrations with an inaugural parade

Niceville, Fla. – Veterans Day is just two days away, but some communities are celebrating early.

The city of Niceville began celebrating the holiday on Saturday.

The city honored former military members with its first-ever Veterans Day parade.

Red, white and blue colored the streets of Niceville as locals gathered along the streets waving flags in celebration.

Veterans like Nicholas Pulire saw the parade as an opportunity to reflect on their service.

“I was a 9/11 veteran,” Pulire said. “I was in college when this happened, so that’s when I got involved.”

Pulire said he served in the Air Force for 18 years and transferred to the Space Force two years ago.

He remembers the beginning of his military career almost 20 years ago.

“I completed an ROTC program and was drafted into the Air Force in 2005 and flew to Afghanistan, Iraq and a few other places,” Pulire said. “I feel good about the service.”

David Lee is another proud veteran.

He says his four years in the Air Force had sentimental value.

“I come from a long line of people who served before me,” Lee said. “It’s nice to honor that.”

Lee says the military changed his life for the better.

“I’m grateful for the service,” Lee said. “It gave me a lot of brothers and friends and supported my family.”

Lee says family is important to him and he brought his wife and son to enjoy the parade.

He says that ultimately it is the Niceville community that makes this celebration special.

“To be part of a community where people come together and celebrate the sacrifices of those who helped build this country,” Lee said.

Veterans from various industries took part in the parade.

Army veteran James Smith was stationed in the Demilitarized Zone in Korea.

“I’m a proud veteran,” Smith said.