A Tribute to Service: Thousands Gather for NYC Veterans Day Parade

Video, photo and overall coverage by Luis Diaz

A photo gallery of images captured at the parade can be found near the bottom of this page.

On November 11, 2023, New York City hosted the 104th Annual Veterans Day Parade, honoring America’s veterans from every branch of service and generation since World War II. The parade commenced at 9:30 a.m. at 26th Street and Fifth Avenue, proceeding north to 47th Street, and concluded around 12:30 p.m. Despite the chilly weather, thousands of spectators lined the streets to pay tribute to the nation’s heroes.

Organized by the United War Veterans Council (UWVC), the parade is recognized as the nation’s largest commemoration of service. The event featured nearly 300 marching and vehicle units, with approximately 20,000 participants, including veterans, military members, service organizations, youth cadets, and marching bands from across the country and overseas. The parade was broadcast live on WABC-TV and streamed online, allowing viewers nationwide to join in the celebration.

Lieutenant General (Retired) Mike Linnington, a U.S. Army veteran and CEO of the Wounded Warrior Project, served as the Grand Marshal. Linnington, who led combat troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, has dedicated his post-military career to supporting veterans and their families. He was accompanied by Honorary Marshals Elana Duffy, a combat-wounded Army veteran of Afghanistan and Iraq, and Richard Rice, a longtime Special Forces Army veteran with service spanning from Vietnam through Somalia.

The parade showcased a diverse array of participants, including veteran groups, military units, youth and civic organizations, top high school bands from across America, vintage vehicles, and floats. Sponsors such as the Wounded Warrior Project, JP Morgan Chase & Co., Fiserv, Cushman & Wakefield, T-Mobile, Salesforce, and Verizon supported the event, highlighting the community’s commitment to honoring and serving veterans.

The United War Veterans Council, a non-profit, non-partisan organization, has been instrumental in producing the parade and supporting various initiatives that provide vital services to the veteran community, including health, wellness, and education programs. The UWVC also works to raise public awareness and understanding of veterans’ needs through major public events and promotional activities, bringing together veterans groups, community organizations, government agencies, businesses, and the general public.

For more information about the NYC Veterans Day Parade and the United War Veterans Council, visit www.nycvetsday.org and uwvc.org.

Photos captured at this year’s parade: