The annual Memorial Day parade proceeds along Central Avenue in historic downtown Faribault.
MY HUSBAND AND I TOOK in the annual Memorial Day parade in Faribault this morning. The parade, as it always does, featured military personnel and horses and old cars and marching bands and a fire truck and kids waving flags.
Flag-waving from an old pick-up truck during the parade.
Typically we sit in the same spot on a street corner so I am assured of a wide open view to photograph the event. But this year, attempting to gain a fresh, photographic perspective on the parade, we opted for another location.
Let’s just say that things did not work out too well for us at that spot.
I’m going to take the high road here, though, and not go into details which would publicly embarrass an individual who already embarrassed himself by shouting across the street at my husband. He later walked across the street and apologized to both of us.
As I ponder that incident, the one positive I can take from the experience is this:
We are blessed to live in a country where freedom of speech is protected.
I wasn’t, of course, thinking this at the time the angry words were fired toward us. But, in retrospect, it seems the appropriate thought to have on this day when we honor those who have fought for freedom.
Several military vehicles were in the parade along with color guards and honored veterans.
Checking out the candy scooped up during the parade.
The Scouts handed out flags to parade attendees like this little girl.
I upped the contrast on this image because I wanted to emphasis the beautiful blanket on that horse.
After the parade…
© Copyright 2012 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Looks like a fabulous parade and I am sure that it was better than even the pictures show. I get all choked up when I see the flag, our military, marching bands, the whole thing. The older I get the more I understand what our military has done and continues to do. The sacrifices that families make on a daily basis amazes me. My husband was a Navy man, my daddy a Navy man and my father in law an Air Force man so I guess I have it all around me. May your Memorial Day be blessed! Thanks for such a great post.
I agree. The older I grow, the more I appreciate the sacrifices made by our military men and women.
I always find it challenging to capture the spirit of a parade in photos, but you have done that well here … while still leaving the sense that there was more to see! Thanks for sharing this tribute to the sacrifices of military men and women.
Thank you. I agree that photographing a parade is difficult. This year I decided to concentrate on the details rather than try to capture the entire essence of the event, as you observed.
Thank you for the wonderful photos. Whenever I see young children holding our American Flag, I get emotional. The Little Girl in the classic pickup truck holding the American Flag, is award winning!! All the photos are excellent! You have proven to the rest of Minnesota, that Southern Minnesota is filled with fun, patriotism, love and hard work. God Bless all of our Southern Minnesota fellow residents.
Allan, thank you. Your kind words truly humble me. I am honored to bring the stories of southern Minnesota to my readers.
Great photos! I was just saying yesterday that holidays on the ranch are hard for me because it often feels like just another day–no parades, no picnics, etc. It’s great to see the celebrations and reflections in photos! And, maybe I need to get out more often!
Having grown up on a farm, I know how difficult it is to get away. During my entire childhood, I went on only two vacations: to Duluth, Minnesota, and to the Black Hills of South Dakota.