Community Corner

VIDEO: Iraq War Veterans Parade Marches Downtown

Hundreds of Portsmouth area residents thank Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans for their service in state's first-ever "Welcome Home" parade.

Grateful Portsmouth area residents and family members of the servicemen and women who served in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan cheered and applauded as nearly a dozen New Hampshire veterans marched through Market Square.

Sunday's "Welcome Home" Iraq War Veterans parade gave the community a chance to say thank you to those who served in the Armed Forces and the New Hampshire Army and Air National Guard during both wars.

Besides the war veterans, other parade marchers included Gov. John Lynch, who served as a co-grand marshal alongside some of the state's Goldstar families, the Leftist Marching Band, the Bektash Shriners Drum Corps of Concord and the Portsmouth Police and State Police Honor Guards.

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of Portsmouth residents Peter Sommsich, Marty Cameron and Harold Whitehouse earlier this year after St. Louis, Mo., held the country's first Iraq War Veterans parade. Joshua Denton, a Portsmouth resident and Iraq War veteran, headed up the parade's steering committee.

The families of the men and women who have served in both wars and several Iraq War veterans who marched said they were very grateful for all the support they have received throughout both conflicts.

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Be sure to check out our image gallery and story first thing Monday morning to see what Iraq War veterans and New Hampshire families thought about Sunday's "Welcome Home" Iraq War Veterans parade.

What follows is a video of Sunday's parade.


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