The folks in the military, myself included, don't consider it an honor. In fact we consider it an unnecessary pain in the ass.
EXACTLY! Not only do you have to get an inspection ready uniform, but if you are in the Navy, chances are you haven't marched since A school, and would also have to take time out to practice. I don't know of anyone in the military, other than a select group of butt kissers, who enjoy doing crap like that.
Come on folks, you're way-over thinkin this. It's a parade honoring our Military folks. It isn't brain surgery.
Civilians see it as a parade to honor our military. Only thing is, the military is the one that has to participate in it, and those who are actually IN the military (not civilians looking on) look at something like this as a major pain in the ass.
Only for those IN it.
For the rest, the vast majority, they will see it as honor.
And even though it is a pain in the ass, those in it, will see it as an honor also, especially with the passage of time and the pain in the ass fades, and the memories and the stories remain.
You know, as a member of the Administration division (I was a Personnelman), I got selected on a regular basis for crap like this, and ALL of them, with the exception of one were a major pain in the ass, and I have no fond memories.
However.................there is ONE exception to that. We pulled into France one time, and there was going to be a ceremony at some graveyard for an anniversary of WWII. That is the only one I remember fondly, because it was for an actual event that I cared about. And, the food they gave us afterwards was pretty great.