With a flyover, flashing lights, and hundreds of waving flags, Wylie East Intermediate brought the community together for a moving first-ever Veterans Day Parade.
The sound of sirens echoed down the road as American flags rippled in the crisp November breeze. Students lined the sidewalks of Wylie East Intermediate, faces bright with excitement, as the school hosted its first-ever Veterans Day Parade — an event that quickly became a shining example of what can happen when a community rallies to honor those who’ve served.
Organized by Principal Ricky Bacon and his staff, the parade brought together dozens of vehicles and hundreds of attendees, transforming the school grounds into a living tribute to military service. The Abilene Fire Department, Abilene Police Department, and Taylor County Sheriff’s Office rolled through with lights flashing, joined by VFW riders on motorcycles, classic cars, and representatives from Taylor Electric, Dyess Air Force Base, and many others. The energy was electric — not just from the engines, but from the pride that radiated across the crowd.
Then came the roar of an engine overhead. Moments later, Lisa Taylor, with the National WASP WWII Museum, appeared in the sky, piloting a vintage plane in a series of sweeping passes. Taylor continues to champion the legacy of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) — the pioneering women who flew military aircraft in World War II. Her flyover served as both tribute and inspiration, as students craned their necks and pointed toward the sky in awe.
“To see that vintage plane overhead — and to know the story behind it — it gave everyone goosebumps,” said Bacon. “For a lot of our kids, this was their first real experience with Veterans Day. We wanted them to see, hear, and feel what it means to honor our veterans.”
For Bacon, the connection runs deep. “My dad was in the military,” he said. “I was actually a dependent living overseas during Desert Storm. When the war broke out, I was there. So this day means a lot to me — not just as a principal, but as someone who grew up understanding what service looks like.”
He laughed recalling the early planning stages. “When I first mentioned the idea to staff, the reaction was, ‘Okay… but how are we going to pull this off?’” Bacon said with a smile. “But that’s what’s so special about this community. You ask for help, and they show up — big time. The Abilene community never disappoints.”
And show up they did. The Wylie High School Marching Band led the parade with the steady rhythm of drums, joined by the Wylie Cheerleaders and not one, but two Spikes the Bulldogs, proudly marching side by side. Students waved hand-made signs and flags, cheering as first responders, veterans, and service members rolled by. News cameras from local stations KTAB and KTXS captured the moment — a sea of purple, gold, and red, white, and blue.
Behind the parade route, students were also learning firsthand what life in the military can look like. The Dyess “We Care” team set up a demonstration tent with cots, gear, and MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) — offering students a tangible glimpse of deployment life. “We wanted this day to be more than just watching a parade,” Bacon explained. “We wanted it to be an experience.”
Fifth-grade teacher Julie Wishart felt that experience deeply. Her husband is currently deployed, and she says events like this help her students understand both the pride and the sacrifice that come with military life. “It’s meaningful for me, but also for my kids,” she said. “Many of them have parents serving right now. They get excited about the flyover and the motorcycles, but they also start to grasp that service means missing family, long deployments, and sacrifice. That empathy is powerful.”
Wishart’s student, Liam Beasley, stood near the front of the crowd, his hand waving a small flag as his father passed by in the parade. “I’m excited because my dad’s in it,” Liam said proudly. “It’s important to remember people who protect us — it’s dangerous, and they do it for us.”
That simple truth — spoken by a fifth grader — captures exactly what the day was about.
As the final cars rolled by and the rumble of engines gave way to cheers, Bacon took a quiet moment to look around. “This is what it’s all about,” he said. “Our students learned, our community came together, and our veterans felt appreciated. That’s a win all the way around.”
In the end, the first Wylie East Intermediate Veterans Day Parade wasn’t just an event — it was a moment of connection, pride, and learning. A day when a community came together to honor its heroes, and young Bulldogs looked up — literally and figuratively — to understand the meaning of service.
See KTAB Story Below and Additional Photos:
