Main Street through downtown Longmont was quiet early Monday morning as police blocked off the usually busy roadway for the city’s Veterans Day parade.

The calm, though, didn’t last long as countless people, many of whom wore red, white and blue clothing and hats honoring different branches of the United States Armed Forces, started lining both sides of the street shortly before 11 a.m.

Russ Lambert, who served in the U.S. Army during the late ’60s and early ’70s, handed out free donuts to people readying to march in Monday’s parade as they got into place on Longs Peak Avenue. In addition to being a veteran, Lambert is a member of TRU Community Care, a nonprofit health-care organization that helps community members living with advanced illness and loss, including veterans.

“They wanted … veterans who could identify with veterans,” Lambert said. “It’s difficult for somebody that hasn’t been in the service to be able to identify with somebody that has.”

This year’s parade route included: Longs Peak Avenue, Main Street, Fourth Avenue and Kimbark Street.

Parade-goers were treated to pulsating drum cadences and patriotic tunes performed by various high school bands including Longmont High School.

Motorcycles with American flags, Thunderbirds and Corvettes also made their way up and down the parade route, at times revving their engines to excite the crowd.

U.S. Army veteran Gary Schmidt, who is the captain of the American Legion Post 32 Honor Guard, shared before the start of Saturday’s parade how many of the veterans in attendance Monday served in the Vietnam era.

“When you signed up, you really had no say so into where you were going to be assigned,” Schmidt said. “You just went where you were told and did what the assignment was and so that’s what we all did. Some came back, some didn’t.”

Longmont’s Veterans Day parade was one of many scheduled events on Monday to honor all of those who served.

Amanda Weinstein, who is the community engagement coordinator for Veterans Community Project of Longmont, a nonprofit that helps veterans with a variety of services including housing for those experiencing homelessness, also took part in Monday’s parade.

“It was so nice to see the support and how patriotic everyone was and also just to shake the hands of veterans that were out here today and say thank you for your service,” Weinstein said.