Updated: 5/26/2012 11:44 PM
CELEBRATE: Attendees applaud participants of the annual parade that took place Saturday on Laurens Street. Hundreds gathered to honor the U.S. military. Staff photo by Chris Walsh.
Hundreds of patriotic local residents lined the downtown streets of Aiken to watch this year's Memorial Day parade make its way down Laurens Street.
American flags waved as far as the eye could see as families turned out to honor military members past and present. Even U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham yelled out, "This is the best parade in South Carolina" while he made his way down the route sitting atop a convertible.
Marching bands belted out the tunes of American lore as those in attendance clapped and saluted passersby.
"It was hot," said Jaibria Quattlebaum, who was in the parade as a part of the Aiken High School color guard.
"But it was fun," chimed in fellow color guard member Mariel Urizar, who was also sitting with Leanne Summers and Mercedes Winters at the ice cream social that followed the parade.
It wasn't just locals taking in the Memorial Day festivities either. Keri Truhe brought her family down from North Carolina to see her mother, Barb Rollins, in the parade on the AAA Home School Band float.
"Fabulous," Truhe said, sitting in the shade with her children Tori, David and Monica.
The parade was held by the James L. Hammons Marine Corps League Detachment 939 and featured more than 70 participating groups. The grand marshal was U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Perry M. Smith.
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