Growing up on the Gulf Coast, where Mardi Gras is second only to shrimp season, I’ve been to my fair share of parades.

And while I claim no expertise in the area, after attending a few dozen I’ve begun to know what to expect.

Regardless of the parade’s flavor — Mardi Gras, Christmas, Fourth of July or Veterans Day — some things are pretty common. All parades usually have marching bands, screaming sirens, dignitaries in special vehicles and large crowds of people waiting to see what the parade has to offer.

With that knowledge, it didn’t take long to realize something was missing Saturday as I awaited the beginning of the Natchez Veterans Day parade.

Standing on the corner of Main and Wall streets I ticked off the &uot;parade requirements&uot; in my head:

— In the distance the Natchez High School Marching Band was lining up in formation. One down.

— Just in front of the band members of the Natchez Police Department and Adams County Sheriff’s Office stood ready to lead the way. The blue lights were a dead giveaway that screeching sirens would soon herald the impending parade. Requirement No. 2.

— Behind the law enforcement vehicles was a variety of cars, trucks, Jeeps and other assorted military vehicles including a half-tank-like vehicle. Inside each vehicle was dozens of veterans and their families and a few politicians. From World War II to the Gulf War, America’s modern war history was represented by the men and women who gave their time and sometimes their lives for their country. No. 3 was present.

— As my eyes panned around, I quickly realized what was missing — crowds of people.

Why?

Hundreds — maybe thousands — will cram the streets for a chance to grab some plastic beads and a bit of candy, but only a handful of diehards came out on Saturday to honor America’s veterans.

From my perspective, it seemed Saturday’s parade had more participants than spectators — and that just somehow seems wrong.

In a few short weeks, hundreds will likely come out to the annual Christmas parade, yet Saturday the sidewalks were relatively bare.

The reason few people show up for such events can’t be that people just don’t care or they don’t appreciate what veterans have done for them.

The only logical conclusion, I could see, is that in recent years we’ve lived in peaceful comfort.

For example, my generation’s view of war comes from live CNN television news coverage of the Gulf War. With that as a frame of reference, it’s probably easy for some folks to lose perspective on what war is really about and what veterans have done for this country.

No television report or Hollywood film can do justice to what the men riding in Saturday’s parade have been through.

Watching the parade go, I looked into the faces of men who have seen war — real war. As I did, I began to wonder what they thought as they waved to empty sections of sidewalk.

The thought made me a bit ashamed of our society.

Just when I thought little hope existed in our apathetic world, I bumped into a man squatting beside his son’s stroller.

I stopped and began talking to the Rev. Dave DeVries who had brought his 3-year-old son Zachary out to the parade.

&uot;I’m trying to teach my kid a little something (about history),&uot; Dave DeVries said, explaining that Zachary’s grandfather was a veteran. &uot;But I’m a bit disappointed at the turnout. Is it always this way?&uot;

Kevin Cooper is managing editor of The Democrat. He can be reached at (601) 445-3541 or by e-mail at kevin.cooper@natchezdemocrat.com.