YUMA, AZ (AZ Family) — Two World War II veterans were honored in a parade in Yuma County Monday morning.

For 75 years, the VFW Post in Wellton, Arizonahas been celebrating veterans. This Veterans Day was no exception.

Jimmie Robinson, 104, is a World War II veteran who served in the United States Air Force. Bill Hodson, 102, served in the Marine Corps during the same war. Both had the honor of being grand marshals in the Wellton Veterans Day parade this year.

People lined the streets to cheer them on and thank them for their service.

“I think I’m very lucky,” Robinson said.

Robinson joined the Air Force when he was just 21 years old.

“I have to go overseas on the Queen Elizabeth,” Robinson said. A memory that remembers as if it were yesterday.

The Queen Elizabeth was one of the largest ships of World War II, carrying hundreds of thousands of troops. But this Veterans Day, Robinson remembers the service members who didn’t come home.

“I lost 97 boys, young men, and sometimes that affects me quite a bit,” Robinson said.

Robinson served four years in combat.

Wellton VFW Commander Traci Sparks knows how emotional the day can be. That’s why he made sure both veterans were surrounded by love.

“Just having those two still alive with us is a huge honor because that’s history and hearing them tell their stories is incredible,” Sparks said.

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