Vietnam veteran Grant Spencer decorated his motorized wheelchair with several American flags to show his support during the Veterans Day Parade on Saturday.

Spencer, 59, formerly of California, moved to Muskogee in 2006 and said he couldn’t believe what he was missing.

“Friendly people make Muskogee,” Spencer said. “The life is much better out here.”

Spencer said he attends the parade every year and enjoys dressing up for the occasion.

“I break out my vest and flags and everything,” he said. “I even came with extra flags, which I have been giving away to people. That’s how I support my patriotism.”

See a gallery of photos from the event here.



The crowd watched as four airplanes zoomed by, leaving a trail of smoke in the clear, crisp air. Children rushed to pick up candy as it was tossed from various floats. Red, white and blue were the colors of the day, and flags waived from cars, motorcycles and in the hands of people attending the event.

Joel Everett, Muskogee Parks and Recreation Department special projects coordinator, said there were 40 entries and approximately 1,000 people who took part in the special event.

“It’s a little different than the Azalea or Christmas Parade. It’s an honor, not a celebration,” Everett said.

Everett said he would like to see more people turn out for the parade.

“Sometimes, we think that people want us to move out of the way, so they can go shopping,” he said. “It’s something that these guys deserve, and it sure feels good to do it, but it’s hard to get people out for it.”

Many attendees were veterans, while others came to support a friend or family member.

Sisters Shaileen Tague, 18, and Cherillynn Spencer, 21, of Wagoner brought their children to the event to watch their grandfather as he rode his motorcycle in the parade.

“He was a D.I., drill instructor, for 22 years with the Army,” Cherillynn Spencer said. “He was hard on our parents when they were growing up, but not on us.”

Jo Ann Yarbrough, 69, of Muskogee held a small American flag in her hand as she stood on the corner of Third Street and Broadway. Yarbrough’s brother is a Vietnam veteran and is currently fighting cancer.

“I support the veteran’s 100 percent for everything they’ve done, and they need more support.”