250-Car Parade Helps Veteran Celebrate 100th Birthday In Burke

BURKE, VA — After U.S. Army veteran Fred's 100th birthday party was canceled due to the coronavirus, a call for neighbors to help with a drive-by parade was posted on the Burke Patch. Once that message went out to our subscribers, responses came flooding in as residents volunteered to participate. Burke neighbors turned out in numbers as he turned 100 on Sunday, May 17.

Over 250 vehicles lined up in the drive-by parade, according to Zada Martin, who recruited neighbors to participate. Participants met up at Cherry Run Elementary School before heading over to see Fred on Neaptide Lane.

The lineup included Veterans of Foreign Wars, local police and fire departments, Mission BBQ, children on bicycles and a uniformed soldier who saluted Fred. Cars were decked out with balloons and paradegoers held signs as Fred and his loved ones looked on. The parade ended with singing of the U.S. National Anthem and "Amazing Grace."

Fred served his country as a member of the U.S. Army during World War II and Korean War. Martin wrote that Fred was "honored and appreciated" by the turnout.

"Fred caught himself tearing up, as he was very touched and moved by seeing so many of you," Martin wrote on Burke Patch.

Check out more photos of the parade taken by Jeff Lin and Linda Bunk.

SEE ALSO: Herndon Gives 100-Year-Old WWII Veteran Birthday Parade