Cold Weather Doesn't Halt Tulsa's Veterans Day Parade

Tulsa's 96th annual Veterans Day Parade was held in downtown Tuesday morning. In spite of the cold, organizers expected 10,000 people to attend.

Patriots young and old stood along the route to honor veterans and their service.

One mother said she held her kids out from school so they could pay tribute to veterans and learn an important lesson.

"They need to realize nothing is free, and people have died and sacrificed their lives for us," she told reporter Rick Wells.

The parade began at 11 a.m. at 3rd and Boston, heading west to Boulder before turning south onto 7th Street. At 7th Street, the parade turned east to Boston then north on Boston to 6th Street. It finished up on Detroit. 

See a map of the parade.

Tuesday's temperatures are expected to be in the upper 30s and with the strong northerly winds it will feel even colder.

Tulsa Public Schools announced Monday the district's ROTC units will not be taking part because of the cold.

Tulsa Public Schools released the following statement:

"Tulsa Public Schools is proud of our longstanding tradition of participating in the Veteran's Day Parade. Due to the extremely low temperatures that are expected for tomorrow, some of our schools have elected not to risk their student's safety. Most of our ROTC units do not have the proper cold weather gear to protect our students. We hope the parade organizers will understand and we fully expect to be back in full force next year."

11/10/2014 Related Story:Cold Keeps Tulsa ROTC Cadets From Marching In Veterans Day Parade

City of Tulsa offices will be closed in observance of Veterans Day. The list includes city hall, animal shelter and city park recreation centers. 

Mohawk Park and Page Belcher golf courses, as well as the Tulsa Zoo and Gilcrease Museum will remain open. Trash collection will also operate as normal on Tuesday.