Red, white and blue filled Gay Street on Friday as hundreds of people lined the parade route to celebrate Veterans Day.
"This is the most exciting day for me," said Beth Waters, a military mother. "We get to salute the military and tell everyone how proud we are of our sons."
Her son, Captain Spencer Waters, is in the Marine Corps, currently stationed in North Carolina. He couldn't be at Friday's parade, but his mom Facetimed with him to show him how his hometown was celebrating his service.
"I'm proud of him and he knows his mama loves him," Waters said. "I'm so glad that we're all so supportive of USA and all of our military. What a wonderful place to live Knoxville, Tennessee, to support our troops."
For military veterans, the parade was a trip down memory lane.
"It brings back a lot of memories. Some good, some bad, but it's a good experience," said Rita Bennett, an Army veteran and military mother. "It gives me a chance to honor the veterans and the families of the veterans."