Photos: Marine Corps Aviation Centennial Parade

Marines filled parade unit ranks and stood among the waving crowd on Village Street in Marblehead Saturday at the .

Swampscott police officers rode in the parade's police motorcycle contingent and the crowd included Swampscott residents.

Among them was US Marine Corps veteran Jim Schultz, who was a major organizer for last year's Swampscott Veterans Appreciation Parade.

The crowd at Saturday's parade included Steve Belanger, who served in the Marine Corps from 1979-85.

He said the day was special because it was right here that Lt. Alfred Cunningham made the Corps' first solo flight in 1912.

Also, because both his son and daughter serve in the air wing of the US Marine Corps, his daughter stationed in Hawaii and his son in California.

Parade marchers moved to drums and bagpipes under tall shade trees along Village Street.

Spectator Vincent McGrath of Marblehead served in the Corps in the mid-1950s.

He was especially impressed with the form demonstrated by the Lynn English High School Junior Marine ROTC Color Guard.

"They weren't a half inch out of line," he said. "They were just together in beautiful cadence."

Seeing them march he couldn't help but think of when he was young and marching and full of energy.

The parade and marchers continued to the park by the to tour the four US Marine Corps helicopters.

Lynn English Color Guard member Elizabeth Castro said the Junior Marine ROTC members drill and practice before and after school.

That is why they are so together when they march.

Elizabeth will be a senior and plans to participate in a summer Marine Corps service program wheil she attends college.