Thousands March in Veteran’s Day Parade

A Vietnam War veteran revs a Harley Davidson motorcycle and draws cheers from the crowd during the Veterans Day parade on Manhattan's Fifth Ave. on Friday. (Ivan Pentchoukov/Epoch Times)

NEW YORK—Thousands marched up Fifth Avenue on Nov. 11 to celebrate Veteran’s Day. Motorcades, marching bands, bag pipers, antique fire trucks, and more made their way from 23rd Street to 56th Street on a crisp Friday afternoon. “It feels like a small home town,” said one onlooker. Mayor Michael Bloomberg was in one of the first processions. Prior to the parade, Bloomberg laid a wreath at the Eternal Light Monument in Madison Square Park. The monument commemorates the signing of the Armistice on November 11, 1918, which officially ended World War I. The theme of this year’s parade was “Never Forget,” marking the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War and the 10th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks. More than 25,000 march in the parade every year. Among the those marching are New York City public servants and uniformed personnel who have served in the military as well as war veterans. “Our veterans and active military personnel have made brave sacrifices in the name of our nation’s freedom,” State Senator Kevin Parker said. “Veteran’s Day is not the only day of the year that these courageous men and women of the armed forces should be recognized, we should recognize them every day.”