Citizens from around the Big Country gathered in downtown Abilene on Saturday to show their support for men and women who have served in the armed forces. The Big Country Veterans Day Parade featured a number of local supporters and veterans, including Dyess Air Force Base personnel, the Taylor County Sheriff’s Department and the American Legion Post 61.
Taylor County Commissioner Chuck Statler is a veteran of the United States Army. He says the Abilene community does a good job of showing support for the military, "This is our community’s way of saying thank you to veterans like myself and a lot of the people that have unselfishly served our country in the various branches of the military with the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, as well as the Coast Guard. So I think this is our community’s way of saying thank you for serving.”
Statler says he is proud of how many veterans choose to retire to Abilene because of the support from Dyess and the community.