It was a monumental salute by all of Carbon County to military veterans on Sunday at the annual Veterans Parade in Weatherly.

Every section of the county was represented. Every veteran’s group had a color guard. Every high school band within the county performed. Every military branch was well represented.

The five-division parade took over an hour to pass.

Also, the weather, although just a tad chilly, was fantastic with clear skies.

Hosted by the Weatherly American Legion Post, it was the first time in 27 years that the county’s veterans’ parade was staged in Weatherly, said Renee Slakoper, a parade coordinator.

She and Lenny Kovach serve as the senior coordinators for the Carbon County Veterans Council, which organizes the parade.

Both were very pleased with the turnout of participants, as well as the large number of spectators.

“The parade was amazing,” Slakoper said, adding she was extremely pleased with the attendance throughout the entire route.

“It’s very nice to see the veterans supported this way,” she said.

A panel of independent judges selected “best appearing” units in four categories.

Selected winners are:

• Best Appearing Color Guard: Palmerton American Legion Post 269.

• Best Appearing Band: Panther Valley High School.

• Best Appearing Float: Weatherly Faith Church.

• Best Appearing America 250 Float: Pre-K Counts of Weatherly.

The parade began by the ringing of the tower bell of the Schwab School Building. The line of march was led by the Weatherly Police Department and then a color guard of the Schuylkill-Carbon Marine Corps League.

Behind them was the grand marshal, Sergeant Major Mark D. Baylis, a retired U.S. Army Special Forces soldier who founded the Valor Clinic Foundation. Valor is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping veterans who are homeless, at risk, or struggling to regain stability.

Baylis rode in a white, horse-drawn carriage.

Every division included a high school band. The bands were from Weatherly, Lehighton, Panther Valley, Palmerton and Jim Thorpe, all of them playing military-style music.

Several impressive floats were included.

The Pre-K Counts group was filled with dozens of children as well as some adults. The adults were dressed as Uncle Sam, an American Eagle and other characters.

The Weatherly Historical Society had a replica of a steam engine on a float, large enough that two individuals were inside it.

The Submarine Club of Carbon County had a float on which there was a military submarine replica.

One of the highlights was a flyover by a plane from Flying Colors Gender Reveal, which left trails of red, blue and white smoke.

Besides color guards by veterans’ groups, there also was a four-member unit from the Pennsylvania State Police who marched.

The Weatherly Hill Climb had a float pulling a small, sports style car.

Also participating was the Juke Box Cruisers Car Club with 10 vehicles ranging from a Model T to a Volkswagen Bug.

Another set of vehicles was the miniature jalopies of the Rajah Forks of the Delaware Shrine Club, which performed figure-8s throughout the parade route.

As with virtually all the parades held throughout the county, the local fire departments had a stellar showing with apparatus from Beaver Meadows to Aquashicola. At least 40 firetrucks were included, as well as ambulances and multipurpose emergency vehicles. Two fire departments from outside the county — Coaldale and West Hazleton — also were in the parade.

Kovach praised the group of organizers that helped with the parade, including individuals who helped with traffic control.

“Everyone did an awesome job,” he said. “For the first time being in Weatherly in a long time, everybody did great.”

Kovach and Slakoper have been coordinators of the county parade for the past 19 years. Slakoper said this was one of the best attended that she can remember.