After returning from his involvement with the United States Army in the Vietnam War, Milton resident Ken Mabie remembers coming to a unwelcoming crowd.
“People were throwing things at us,” Mabie said. 
“We had the stigmatism that we were the bad guys.”
While being associated with the unpopular conflict, Mabie said he and many other veterans returning from Vietnam were labeled “baby killers” and “drug addicts.”
Serving as a combat engineer and door gunner with the Army, Mabie said he and his brothers, who also served during in Vietnam, were following a proud family tradition primarily set by their father, Robert.
“He was something to look up to. He played a large role in our upbringing,” Mabie said. “We were part of an generation that felt it was an obligation to serve our country.”
Although the conflict will not leave Mabie with the most pleasant of memories, it has not kept him from assisting other veterans in need.
“I consider myself a advocate for veterans,” he said. “Anything that helps out the veterans, then I am all for it.”
Since 2006, Mabie, with the assistance with his wife, has helped fundraising efforts for the veterans in need through the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association’s 20-3 Annual Veterans Thunder Ride. The ride will raise money in order to make sure transportation is available for appointments at the Veteran’s Affairs clinic in Pensacola with the ‘Vets to the VA Clinic’ program.
Mabie is thankful for local businesses and other organizations which have kept supporting the Thunder Ride and its overall purpose.
“We work with each other and we have a job to do,” he said. “That is the background I came from.”
Mabie is just one of the few local veterans who regularly attend and take part in the Santa Rosa County Veterans Memorial Foundation’s annual Veterans Day Parade and Ceremony on Wednesday, November 11.
Like the previous ceremonies, the event will honor area veterans with proclamations, key note speakers, performances of TAPS, the National Anthem and ‘God Bless America.’ The wreath presentations will include both the Daughters and Sons of the American Revolution organizations, among other activities.
The event organizer Ralph Nesenson said any organization is free to take part in the parade, they just need to meet at MiltonHigh School prior to the parade. No fee is necessary.
In addition to having free food provided by the 4-H organization with assistance from the local Wal-Mart following the ceremony, the Veterans Memorial Foundation will also be raffling off a 1989 Chevy S10 pickup truck. Raffle tickets can be obtained at the Veteran’s Memorial office, located behind the Santa Rosa County Courthouse and the Santa Rosa County Chamber of Commerce, located at 5247 Stewart Street.
In case of rain, the parade will be cancelled and the ceremony will take place at the same scheduled time in the MiltonHigh School auditorium, Nesenson said.
WANT TO GO?
WHAT: Veteran’s Day Parade and Ceremony
WHEN: Parade begins at 9:30 on Wednesday, November 11. Ceremony will take place after the parade at 11 a.m.
WHERE: Parade route starts at Milton High School, Stewart Street to Berryhill Road and ending on Willing Street at the Veteran’s Memorial. The Veterans Day ceremony takes place at the Veteran’s Memorial located on Willing Street in downtown Milton. In case of inclement weather, the parade will be cancelled
COST: Free to attend both events.
CONTACT: Ralph Nesenson at 626-7292 or his cell number at 313-6637.
Veteran's Day Parade and Ceremony
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Local veteran continues family tradition with military service