CLEVELAND, Ohio– The 2025 Cleveland Veterans Day parade stepped off to strong winds and chilly temperatures Tuesday in downtown Cleveland.
The parade began on the steps of Cleveland City Hall with a 21-gun salute and a playing of the national anthem by the Warrensville Heights marching band.
Shortly after stepping off, however, parade participants carrying a large American flag east down Lakeside Avenue had to pause and roll the flag up due to the heavy winds that were making carrying it difficult.
The parade continued down East 9th Street, then turning west onto Superior Ave. where it finished at Tower City. Inside Tower City, the celebration continued at Skylight Park, where the city hosted its first-ever Veterans Day celebration.
The celebration featured music, dancing, food and services for veterans to enjoy.
Greeting veterans at the American Red Cross table was Nasir Ahmad, a retired United State Air Force veteran who served for 21 years.
Ahmad, a Cleveland native, said he loves his job providing help and information for fellows vets.
“I was born and raised here in Cleveland. This actually means everything to me because this is my way of giving back to the military community that took me in,” he said.
Stopping by Ahmad’s table, fellow Air Force veteran Dee Mills and Nasir shared stories of their time in the branch.
Mills, an Akron native and Clevelander for the past 21 years, said she appreciates the city hosting an event like this for veterans.
“Any event that celebrates veterans is just an extension of always saying thank you. You’re showing your appreciation just by showing up for a veteran. A lot of times we’re away from home, we miss home. And anytime we can have public events that show that we are appreciated, it warms our heart,” she said.
Tim Hauser was named Grand Marshal for this year’s Cleveland Veterans Day Parade.
Hauser is an Air Force Gulf War veteran and played an instrumental role in getting the PACT Act passed, convinced Ohio to pass a law designating September 22 as veteran suicide awareness and prevention day, and received the Cleveland Cavaliers Diff Maker award in 2022.