SAN ANTONIO -- San Antonians lined Alamo Plaza Saturday morning to support our country's veterans.

"All we can do is support them and pray for them and know that we love them," said J.R. Martinez.

Martinez is the Grand Marshal of this year's Veterans Parade. He is retired from the U.S. Army and now an actor on ABC's "All My Children."

"It's been a great platform for me to raise awareness about our military," he said.

Martinez was driving a vehicle that ran over a land mine in Iraq on April 5, 2003. The explosion burned more than 40 percent of his body. He spent two and a half years recovering at Brooke Army Medical Center. Through it all, Marintez has considered himself fortunate.

"Some guys never get the opportunity to come back. I have both my limbs, I have all four of my limbs and my vision everything's fine so luckily for me I'm grateful," said Martinez.

As an injured veteran himself, the violence of Fort Hood this week weighs heavy on his mind.

"Just know that's not the solution just because one person decided to do that that's not the way out," said Martinez.

Veterans Day ceremonies are always solemn salutes to those who've served and are serving. Saturday's ceremony was also a tribute to those who lost their lives at Fort Hood.

"We know it's happening overseas but we don't expect it to happen 90 miles away," said parade watcher Patty Larson.

President Barack Obama praised the heroism of those who helped Fort Hood shooting victims, especially those who were injured themselves.

In his weekly radio and internet address the weekend before Veterans Day, the president tried to calm tensions around the suspected shooter. He also praised the diverse group of people who are serving or have served in our nation's military.