In addition to celebrating the work of veterans and active-duty military members, the festivities of the day welcomed the aircraft carrier Intrepid back after a two-year renovation, and also marked the 90th anniversary of the end of World War I. A cross-town march of 65 groups originating at the Intrepid’s home on Pier 86 met the main parade route at 42nd St.
Two hundred groups participated in the parade—veterans' leagues, armed forces, the City's uniformed service, and high school marching bands, among others. Passersby stopped behind parade barricades to snap some photos. Some who had to work came down from their offices to watch for a while. Still others came armed with signs that read “Thank you,” and “Home of the Free Thanks to the Brave.” Some veterans were also in attendance.
“I'm in the crowd to see some of the guys I served with,” said Vietnam War veteran Mark Russotto, who served in the Iron Triangle in Vietnam, thus named because the area was a hotbed of Vietminh activity.
The parade began after a wreath-laying ceremony at Madison Square Park before the Eternal Light Monument, which is dedicated to those who served in World War I. To begin the ceremony three shots were into the air, and bugles played Taps in memory of fallen soldiers.
Mayor Bloomberg, other elected officials, special guests, and musical tributes were all a part of the proceedings.
“Across the whole city there are war memorials sprinkled throughout our parks and squares, this parade will go right by some of them,” said New York City Department of Parks and Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe.
Robert Ptachik, the City University of New York Dean for the Executive Office and Enrollment thanked all the veterans and invited them to take part in the school’s many programs and grants for veterans.
Planning for the event began in February under the leadership of parade chairman Patrick Gualtieri. He said the Cross-town March was a huge success. “People were cheering on 42nd St, and some of the jumbotrons [at Times Square] had 'Thank You, Veterans' on them,” said Gualtieri.
Gualtieri also looked forward to working with the new administration to improve veterans' benefits. “We're going to ask [Obama] to support the vets,” he said. “And seemingly that’s part of his agenda. A lot of us who fought wars prior to this one learned how to take care of veterans when they came home.”
On this day 90 years ago, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, World War I ended, bringing many of the nation's servicemen and women home.
To help preserve the history of U.S. veterans, parade affiliate Stories of Service launched their campaign to involve youth to help video tape the oral histories of service members of World War II. The videos will be available online as well as in schools and libraries. For more information, please visit www.stories-of-service.org.
