Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Michael Coote wanted to honor Miami Lakes during his speech at the 45th Annual Veterans Day Parade.
Coote, chosen by the Miami Lakes Veterans Committee to be grand marshal, is also a former chair of the committee.
“I found my home and my friends not where I left them in the wooded lands of rural New Hampshire, but rather 1,500 miles away in the Town of Miami Lakes,” Coote said.
Coote shared an anecdote about his father that he summed up by saying, “home is not where your house is, it’s where your family is.”
He thanked his found clan -- members of the Miami Lakes Veterans Committee and American Legion Post 144 and elected officials -- and his loved ones for their support.
“I’m thrilled, absolutely thrilled,” Coote told The Miami Laker about leading the Nov. 3 parade through town. “I had resisted calls to be the grand marshal. There are plenty of people more deserving than myself.”
Coote served over 30 years in the U.S. Army and described the situations he found himself in during his tenure, calling his military career “a great adventure.”
The ceremony at Town Hall followed the parade of 53 participating organizations that included town committees, school marching bands; dance squads; Miami-Dade County police and officers with the mounted unit; Scouts and Sea Cadets; Star Wars characters; Knights of Columbus and politicians.
Also, service organizations like the Zonta Club and motorcycle clubs. Professional sports teams sent mascots: The Miami Marlins’ Charlie the Rooster and the Florida Panthers’ Viktor E. Ratt appeared.
New this year: Five golf carts covered in the colors of the American flag and decorated in a Veterans Day theme. Three carts won trophies for their efforts.
Cultural Affairs Committee member Charles James served as master of ceremonies and from the Main Street stage, he introduced marchers as they passed by.
Former Mayor Manny Cid, former Vice Mayor Tony Fernandez and former Council members Luis Collazo, and Marilyn Ruano and incumbent Councilmen Josh Dieguez, Ray Garcia and Bryan Morera rode in Jeeps provided by sponsor Miami Lakes AutoMall. Fla. Rep. Tom Fabricio, R-Miami Lakes also marched.
Other sponsors included Memorial Healthcare Systems; The Graham Companies; the Wounded Warrior Project; Vicky Bakery and Great Waste & Recycling.