By Florida Phoenix Staff
The unseasonably cold weather didn’t keep 43-year-old Jean Francois and his three young children from taking in the Veteran’s Day parade in Tallahassee on Tuesday.
“I love America. So we want to come and enjoy America,” said Francois, who, along with his wife and his son, emigrated to the United States from the Republic of Cameroon in central Africa.
Three years ago, the trio became United States Citizens. His two youngest children were born in the United States and were already citizens.
“It’s important to honor the veterans,” Francois said, telling the Phoenix why he was at the parade. He shared that shortly after becoming a U.S. citizen he went to enlist in the U.S. Army Reserves. But he was nearly 40 years old at the time, beyond the 37-year-old age cut off.
“I was told I was too old for that. I was shocked. But I love this uniform, everything. And I’d be happy one of those days if any one of these decided to wear the uniform,” he said, referring to his three young children. “I’d be happy.”
Hundreds of people lined up along Monroe Street to watch the parade. Not everyone was there for the parade, though. Petitioner gatherers with clip boards in hand looked for registered voters willing to sign a proposed constitutional amendment to allow adults to recreationally use marijuana. And some parade onlookers were selling food, including hot boiled peanuts, two bags for $10.
The parade featured Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps from area high schools as well as high school marching bands and Florida State University’s Marching 100.
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