The sun broke through the clouds in time to shine down on the Oak Harbor Veterans Day Parade Monday afternoon.

Hundreds gathered as current and former service members, NJROTC members, fire trucks, police cars, motorcycles and a wide variety of clubs marched, drove and walked through historic downtown. Overhead, the American and Canadian flags flew, suspended between the extended ladders of two fire engines. Canadian military members joined the parade.

This year the Oak Harbor Main Street Association took the helm of the annual parade, and the group brought it back to Pioneer Way.

Many in attendance waved small American flags, which the association gave to the earliest to arrive.

For many, it was their first experience with Oak Harbor’s celebration of the women and men who served.

“It’s really heartwarming,” said Macska Cain.

Her husband serves in the Navy and she appreciated the salute to him as well as those out of service. She added her kids appreciated the free ice cream.

Megan Thomason also has a husband in the Navy, and she appreciated the display while he’s on detachment.

“My daddy’s in the military,” her daughter Reese Thompson, 5, proudly said.

The buildings echoed with the sounds of the Oak Harbor High School band, the military cadences of different branches and applause from the crowd.

It ended with a second pass through by the Oak Harbor Firefighters Association antique fire truck, sporting a large American flag.

Aislin Smith claps and cheers during Monday’s Veterans Day Parade in Oak Harbor. Photo by Laura Guido/Whidbey News-Times

Morwenna Cain enjoys her free ice cream at the Oak Harbor Veterans Day Parade Monday afternoon. Photo by Laura Guido/Whidbey News-Times