Downtown Minneapolis parade honors post-9/11 veterans

StarTribune.com ^ | 7/28/12 | Kelly Smith

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

The Twin Cities Heroes Parade didn't wait for Veterans Day, giving a special thanks to those who've served in the last decade.

After all the emotions Derek Goodridge and his family have endured since doctors amputated the Marine's right arm, Saturday finally brought happy tears.

Together, the 24-year-old, his parents and several family members walked Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis in Saturday's Twin Cities Heroes parade -- tearing up from the hugs, handshakes and couple hundred strangers showing support. It was the first parade he's been a part of since he was injured in an IED explosion in Afghanistan more than a year ago.

"It's more of a happy emotional," Goodridge said, after hugging a stranger who lost her brother in military service, giving Goodridge his bracelet, which read, "Always hope."

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

Good article with a video at the like.

Surprised to see it in he Star Tribune. Probably because it gave them an opportunity to slip in an Amy Klobuchar quote.

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

I’m certain that the turnout for this event was larger than the free hijab give-away downtown today...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2911464/posts

[gorush]

[MplsSteve]

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