Saluting veterans throughout the region

 The Philadelphia region is observing Veterans Day with parades, visits to memorials and expressions of thanks to those who have served in the military.

At the Veterans Memorial in Newtown Square, Delaware County, a crowd turned out to remember those who fought for their country, especially those who died in uniform.

Paul Donaghue, who served in the Marines, came to honor his family’s military history.

“I have two sons that served in Iraq, my son, Paul, and my son, Patrick, who was over there twice,” Donaghue said. “Also my father, who served in World War II and my older brother who served in Korea.”

Benjamin Napier, who served in Iraq, said no matter when you served, there is a common bond.

“It doesn’t matter which conflict, we all shared the same experience,” he said.

A parade through the streets of Media capped off Delaware County’s activities.

In New Jersey,  Gov. Chris Christie attended an event at the Brig. Gen. William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Wrightstown. The state-operated cemetery is the final resting place for more than 56,000 veterans and their family members.

Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno visited the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial in Holmdel.  U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez spoke at a ceremony in Secaucus, while fellow U.S. Sen. Cory Booker toured Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.

Faculty and students in Monmouth University in West Long Branch read out the names of troops killed during deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq since the September 2001 terrorist attacks.

Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, comedian Bill Cosby urged hundreds in attendance at a Veterans Day ceremony in Philadelphia to “call out the name of someone who left their life for us” and remember those who died for their country.

Cosby told the crowd during a 20-minute address in front of the All Wars Memorial to Colored Soldiers and Sailors that “we don’t forget about ours.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.