I happened upon the parade in Media today ('Everybody's hometown'), and it was a fortuitous event. We stopped to do a little shopping and ran into some friends and their new baby. Before we knew it, there was a parade on. Yesterday my father celebrated the Marine Corps birthday at Cookie's Tavern in Philadelphia with countless other Devil Dogs, and today I was at least able to give a hand to some veterans. There were quite a few WWII vets, and my girlfriend was saddened to think that our friends' child wouldn't know any when she grows up.

We also happened to see the Governor (and former DNC chairman) Ed Rendell:

Not the best of pics, but you'll forgive me for being on the wrong side of the street and for using a camera phone:

(I don't know any of the folks in the foreground.)

He's difficult to make out, but he's the bald chap in the center. To his right (and our left) is Congressman elect Joe Sestak.

I didn't happen to see Curt Weldon, despite the advertisement.

The crowd didn't seem terribly enthused about the politicians (nor were they hostile). It was more of an, "oh, it's those guys from TV ... and here comes another neat Jeep."

The applause were saved for those being honored. The most touching part was one no one watched for but one my girlfriend caught. An earnest little boy asked his mother if she thought they'd seen his sign. The sign read "Thank you veterans. I love the USA."