And thanks to a drenching thunderstorm the day before and forecasts of more rain to come, the decision to actually go through with the event wasn't made until three hours before the starting bell.

But at 9:01 a.m. yesterday, the 23rd annual Wai'anae Military Civilian Advisory Council Veterans Day Parade — barely a minute off schedule — started at the Wai'anae Boat Harbor and made its way along Farrington Highway to the Wai'anae Mall.

The Wai'anae High School JROTC Color Guard Team led the way, followed by brass bands, military hardware, vintage vehicles, VIPs and representatives of numerous military, Reserve Officers Training Corps and veterans organizations.

Judging from the local turnout, hundreds of folks here not only still love a parade, but also welcome the chance to pay tribute to their own war vets.

Following the parade, state Adjutant General Robert Lee told a crowd attending a Ho'olaule'a celebration at the mall that the current war in the Middle East had touched every part of the state.

"But more so all of you on Wai'anae Coast," said Lee. "I did some checking of our records and over 800 soldiers from the Hawai'i Army National Guard serve on the Wai'anae Coast — almost 30 percent of our force."

Keynote speaker Herbert E. Wolff, Major General U.S. Army (retired), presented Cresencia Limbago with a plaque of appreciation to give her husband, parade Grand Marshal Francisco "Cisco" Limbago, who was instrumental in starting the Wai'anae advisory council, which has organized and sponsored all the annual Veterans Day Parades.

"Unfortunately, as some of you know, 'Cisco' is having medical problems ... and could not participate in our parade today," said Wolff.

Instead, the ride had gone to Limbago's wife, who gladly filled in at the last minute.

"He got ill and they amputated his left leg," said Cresencia Limbago shortly before the parade began. "He's doing better. He was hoping he could get discharged and be here, but he wasn't able."

Wai'anae Military Civilian Advisory Council president Phoebe Saucerman, who asked Cresencia Limbago to fill in, had waited until 6 a.m. yesterday to give the parade the go-ahead. After she looked into the sky and didn't find a cloud in sight, she said she knew the day would be beautiful.

"I prayed for it last night," she said. "And my prayers were answered."

Meanwhile, parade coordinator, Dan Madeira, 68, was attempting to get the units lined up in the proper order.

"I must be talking Chinese," grumbled Madeira, a large man who walks with the help of a cane. "Because I tell people what to do and then they don't do it. I don't know how many of these things I've done. But everyone is like the first. ... Hey, move that truck up!"

Moments later, to the horror of those around him, Madeira collapsed and 911 was called. By the time an emergency unit arrived five minutes later, Madeira had come to and was again fussing about the line-up.

"They've got two minutes to start the parade," he said as paramedics wheeled him into the ambulance on a gurney at 8:58 a.m.

"Don't worry about the parade, Dad," scolded his son, Makoto Madeira. "Let someone else do it."

That someone turned out to be volunteer Rocky Naeole, who directed the line-up out the boat harbor entrance and onto the highway — even if the units weren't in the specified order.

Madeira, who was listed in satisfactory condition last night at St. Francis Medical Center, West and was undergoing tests to determine why he fainted, missed the parade. Folks who know him said it's probably the first he didn't witness.

"He's done 'em all," said Madeira's longtime friend, Albert "Alapak" Dungca, who was one of several people who commented that Madeira, a Vietnam War veteran, gives too much and works too hard.