MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — Communities across Miami-Dade and Broward counties gathered Tuesday to honor the men and women who served in the U.S. armed forces, marking Veterans Day with parades, ceremonies and moments of reflection from Miami Beach to Coconut Grove to Davie.

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On Miami Beach, Ocean Drive drew one of the largest Veterans Day crowds in South Florida.

The parade stretched along the iconic street just steps from the shoreline, where marching bands performed, military groups saluted, and first responders and local officials joined veterans walking in formation.

Hundreds of spectators lined the sidewalks, waving flags and cheering as the procession made its way through the historic Art Deco district.

The celebration included a 21-gun salute, a moment of silence and other tributes recognizing service members from past and present conflicts.

Organizers said the parade is not only a day of honor, but also an opportunity to educate younger generations about the sacrifices made by veterans.

“So that they can have pride in everything that they do as in any country that they’re in, but especially here in America,” said Marie Escobar, band director of Miami Beach Senior High School. “So they like to teach them how to respect the men and women who who have come and fought for us, even the ones who have died, but the ones who have come and fought for us and the rights that we have today.”

The organizer said that seeing the community come together has a lasting impact on students who participate each year.

“When they realize from seeing the veterans and how the community, everybody appreciates them, this motivates them to come out every year,” said Sgt. David Williams, an ROTC member of Miami Southridge Senior High School. “They get to feel the presence of wearing the uniform and what it represents.”

While the parade ended earlier in the afternoon, a wreath-laying ceremony continued at Lummus Park, where visitors stopped to place flowers, offer salutes and share quiet moments of gratitude.

In Coconut Grove, hundreds of students from dozens of schools filled the streets for another Veterans Day parade that began with a prayer service at the Charlotte Jay Memorial Park Cemetery.

Veterans from the Coconut Grove American Legion Post 182 bowed their heads as they remembered fellow service members who never returned home.

Among them was longtime veteran Alice Eason, who reflected on why she served.

“I live with hope,” Eason said. “I hope that we’ll have peace throughout the world. I live with humility.”

The parade that followed stretched through the Grove’s tree-lined streets, ending in a block party filled with music, flags and families celebrating the day together.

Students said walking in the parade helped them better understand the meaning of service.

“It just means so much because it can show like it’s just a little thing that we’re doing,” one student said. “We’re just walking and cheering, but it means a lot.”

Organizers in Coconut Grove said they were encouraged by the number of young people participating this year, noting that passing down the message of remembrance and respect is essential.

In Broward County, a ceremony in Davie at Veterans Park brought together veterans and loved ones for speeches, honor guard presentations and a musical tribute recognizing each branch of the armed forces.

Attendees took time to share stories, embrace friends, and place their hands over their hearts as flags waved overhead.

Local officials said the tributes, which take place every year, are meant to ensure that the sacrifices made by veterans are not forgotten as new generations grow up further removed from wartime eras.

Many of Tuesday’s parades and ceremonies are expected to lead into additional Veterans Day observances throughout the week, as South Florida families continue gathering to reflect and give thanks.

Click here for more information on the Veterans Day events happening across South Florida.

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A growing memorial now sits outside the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office Kendall substation, a solemn tribute to Deputy Devin Jaramillo, who was shot and killed in the line of duty.

A framed photo of the 27-year-old deputy rests on the hood of his patrol car, surrounded by flowers, candles and messages of support from the community and fellow officers.

Deputy Jaramillo was killed while responding to a minor traffic crash along Southwest 128th Street. Law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation tell CBS News Miami say the driver involved in the crash — identified as 21-year-old Steven Rustrian — fled the scene before being found nearby.

The source told CBS News Miami that Rustrian switched seats with his passenger before Deputy Jaramillo arrived. When the deputy attempted to arrest him, a struggle broke out. Rustrian allegedly took Jaramillo’s service weapon and fired at least seven shots, killing the deputy before turning the gun on himself. 

“We’re out here risking our lives to keep you all safe, and we do it with passion, with heart, and with love,” said Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Joseph Peguero.

According to our source, Investigators have been speaking with Rustrian’s family, who say he served in the military and had been dealing with mental health challenges. 

Jaramillo’s death has deeply affected both the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office and the Coral Gables Police Department, where he began his law enforcement career.

“Devin started with our department,” Coral Gables Police Chief Ed Hudak said. “I know his father, and I know what kind of cop he was going to be. In the four years we had him here, he was special. This was not a paycheck — he took the time to see the person he was dealing with, whether it be a suspect, an offender, or a victim. That’s a learned trait, but this kid had it.”

Officers stopping by the growing memorial say the show of support from the community means more than words can express.

“It’s been a rough couple of years,” one officer told CBS News Miami. “Police don’t always feel cared for, so the community coming out here and showing their respects goes a long way in letting us know that you have our backs, because we have yours.”

Funeral arrangements for Deputy Jaramillo have not yet been finalized.

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — The Surfrider Foundation’s Miami chapter is rolling up its sleeves to restore the city’s coastal dunes — pulling weeds, planting native vegetation and protecting the shoreline from erosion.

Chapter chair Mike Gibaldi said the group has been focused on removing scaevola, an invasive shrub native to Hawaii that has crowded out Florida’s native beach plants for years.

“It takes over the other plants and you end up with a monoculture,” Gibaldi said. “The dune is not as diverse and healthy.”

The Surfrider Foundation’s work was highlighted in its 2025 State of the Beach Report, which recognized Miami for partnering with the organization to improve dune health and resilience.

According to the report, Miami’s beaches drew 28 million visitors last year and generated $22 billion for the local economy.

Gibaldi said restoring the dunes isn’t just about preserving nature — it’s about protecting the community.

“When you have a healthy dune, whether you have a storm surge or hurricanes, it’s holding the beach and protecting upland property from storm surge,” he said.

Since 2006, the group has restored more than 10 acres of coastal dunes and planted over 3,000 native plants, including sea oats and beach creeper.

On Mid-Beach near 35th Street, Gibaldi pointed out the group’s progress.

“We planted natives,” he said. “We didn’t plant the sea grapes that were here, but this is beach creeper — we planted only a couple of these, and it’s taken off. It’s done very well.”

Gibaldi said the ongoing effort is helping Miami Beach’s dunes return to what a “good dune” should look like — healthy, diverse and able to withstand whatever nature brings.

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