The 1942 Plymouth convertible coupe that carried Vietnam veteran John Farrell and World War II veteran Bill Beckman during the Memorial Day parade at the Presidio in San Francisco was one of the last new vehicles built before the auto industry was transformed to help the war effort. (Jessica Christian/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
"The automobile is a signature achievement in U.S. history, so it’s no surprise that cars take center stage during these patriotic moments," Klinger said.
Classic convertibles like the 1967 Chevrolet Camaro SS provide the perfect perch for veterans to receive salutations from the crowd in Commerce City, Colorado, home to the state's largest Memorial Day parade. (Kathryn Scott/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
She said it started out with just the veterans visiting the five cemeteries in town to salute their fallen comrades. Over the years, though, they were joined by a drum corps, poppy girls, members of the town's service organizations and sports teams. "Eventually, it became a full parade."
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The route they followed ended with a road that led uphill to Crownhill cemetery, and that's where the cars started coming in.
"As the guys got older, that hill got bigger, and later on the veterans who were unable to march were put in cars," she said.
Everybody in town wanted to help and Gerri and her siblings were called into service as soon as possible.
"When you turned 16 and got your driver’s license, you were given the name of a veteran you would be picking up and taking to the parade."
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A local car dealer lent them vehicles to use in those days, including muscle cars like Pontiac GTOs and Dodge Chargers.
"The weekend of the parade we’d go over to Hall’s Motors and they’d lend us all these great convertibles, and we’d use those in the parade driving the veterans and he’d let us drive them the whole weekend," Rice recalled.
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Today there’s no shortage of drivers, but the convertibles are getting harder to come by. "Modern cars are not made to sit up and be seen in, so it’s nice when the people that have convertibles volunteer," Rice said.
Ford sold over 600,000 1966 Mustangs and they are a common site at parades across the country, including Naperville's. (iStock/EAGiven)
Parker is a West Point graduate whose two decades of service in the U.S. Army and reserves as an aviation officer and helicopter pilot included an 18-month tour of Iraq.
He said the city "has an unparalleled level of support for the veteran community" and that he never has trouble finding people who want to drive.
Perhaps no vehicle is more fitting for chauffeuring a WWII veteran than a Willys MB that also served in the war. (iStock/EAGiven)
"The turnout is amazing and humbling."
Rice, who was given a community service award for her work on the parade, feels lucky to have the day to honor the vets, and thinks Amherst is a wonderful community for what it does for them.
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"If I were looking for a place to live again, it would be here," she said.
Gary Gastelu is Fox News Digital's automotive editor.