John Sauer leads the Sons of the American Revolution during Charleston's 70th annual Veterans Day Parade, which the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs selected as one of 62 "model communities" across the nation for this year's Veterans Day observance.

Sharon Grant and her 3-year-old granddaughter, Taygen, both of Winfield, watch the parade Saturday. Taygen Grant's father is deployed with the military in Afghanistan.

Boy Scout Troop 31 of Charleston walks down Quarrier Street with a large American flag during the Veterans Day Parade.

More than 50 organizations participated in the 70th annual Charleston Veterans Day Parade, including Cub Scout Pack 28 from Sacred Heart of Charleston, which had its own float.

A 21-gun salute was conducted and taps was played during the Veterans Day program at Haddad Riverfront Park.

Cmdr. Adam D. Palmer, commanding officer of the USS West Virginia, tells the crowd of more than 200 listeners that, for him, Veterans Day is "more about the honor to serve than the need to be honored."

Kinsley Block, 2, of Charleston, watches a line of Humvees pass by.

Crewmembers from the ballistic missile submarine USS West Virginia march in Saturday's Charleston Veterans Day Parade.

More than 200 people listen to guest speaker Cmdr. Adam D. Palmer, commanding officer of the ballistic missile submarine USS West Virginia, at Haddad after the parade. Palmer was the parade grand marshal.