Auburn’s Veterans Parade on Nov. 6 marked its 56th year of honoring veterans and active military personnel.

The thousands of participants included marching bands, Gold Star Mothers and honor guards.

This year’s event opened with a C-17 flyover from McChord Air Force Base.

The one-mile-long parade is one of the largest west of the Mississippi River. It runs about 3 hours.

Auburn is one of the few cities in Washington state designated by the Veterans Day National Committee and the Department of Veterans Affairs as a regional site for the celebration of Veterans Day.