'This really makes you feel appreciated'
BRIAN WALKER/Press Clyde Blood of Spirit Lake, who served in the Air Force, was among the Vietnam veterans honored during the Bayview Daze parade on Saturday.
BRIAN WALKER/Press Heather Scott of Rathdrum watches Bayview Daze parade with her 2-year-old daughter Anna on Saturday.
BRIAN WALKER/Press Thousands of people attended the Bayview Daze parade on Saturday.
BRIAN WALKER/Press Cayle Stevens of Bayview gives his 7-month-old daughter Daphne a view of the Bayview Daze parade on Saturday.
BRIAN WALKER/Press Charlie Till waves to the Bayview Daze parade crowd on Saturday from the Disabled American Veterans float.
BRIAN WALKER/Press Eli Day, 6, cheers on the Bayview Daze parade participants on Saturday.
BAYVIEW — Vietnam War veteran Clyde Blood was overcome with emotion as he proudly waved the American flag and walked in the Bayview Daze parade on Saturday.
"Nobody did anything like this when we came back," the Spirit Lake man said softly as he proceeded along the route amid roughly 2,500 spirited parade attendees.
"This really makes you feel appreciated."
Twenty-eight Vietnam vets were honored on the parade entry organized by Vicky Richardson of Bayview.
"I was hoping for more, but will take what I can get," she said.
Richardson said her heart told her to do something special for that group of vets this year.
"I didn't really realize at the time when I was in my 20s what they were going through," she said. "So many were disrespected when they got back that I wanted to do something for them."
The vets drew loud cheers and warm handshakes throughout the 45-minute parade.
It was a far cry from what Blood experienced when he returned from the war.
"I got off the airplane and went home — nobody said anything," he said. "We hit (the ground) and split so this is nice. I've never been honored like this."
Mack McAnallen, a Vietnam veteran from Coeur d'Alene, smiled as he soaked in the ovation.
"This is exciting," he said. "I was in front of about 4,000 people in Las Vegas two years ago (for a celebration honoring vets), but this is just as good."
Parade attendee Mike Donaldson from Bayview said Bayview Daze was a superb way to start an extended Fourth of July weekend on a sunny day.
"We love this and come every year," he said, adding that several family members are in town celebrating with he and his wife Debbie. "We'll go to the fireworks and you've got to love the huckleberry ice cream."
Sam Martin of Coeur d’Alene brought his kids to Bayview Daze for the first time and couldn't believe the turnout.
"We came out here because Coeur d'Alene is pretty crowded, but they have a really strong showing here as well," he said. "The people are really into it. I like the small-town feel here, and I think I'll be coming back. This is good old-fashioned Americana."
Martin's 6-year-old daughter Elizabeth also gave the festivities a thumbs up.
"The people are really nice," she said while digging through her candy from the parade. "It's also nice being right near the lake (Pend Oreille) so I can go swimming."