RECAP: The annual Baltimore City Veterans Day Parade
Military veterans were honored on Friday with a parade through Baltimore.
The annual Baltimore City Veterans Day Parade started at noon at the Washington Monument, on North Charles Street, and ended at the War Memorial Plaza, on Holliday Street.
The Grand Marshal of the Veterans Day Parade was Maj. Gen. Janeen Birckhead, the Adjutant General of the Maryland National Guard. She is the only African-American woman leading a state military in the nation.
Related: What you need to know about Baltimore's Veterans Day Parade
Mayor Brandon Scott marched alongside dignitaries, veterans and military personnel. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore also be walked the route.
WJZ was the proud media sponsor of the Baltimore City Veterans Day Parade.
Following the parade, there was a wreath-laying ceremony at The Black Soldiers Memorial at the War Memorial Plaza.
Wreath-laying ceremony wraps up parade
Following the parade, there was a wreath-laying ceremony at The Black Soldiers Memorial at the War Memorial Plaza.
Grand Marshal speaks about veterans
The Grand Marshal of the Veterans Day Parade Maj. Gen. Janeen Birckhead, the Adjutant General of the Maryland National Guard, joined the set to talk about the Veterans Day Parade. She is the only African-American woman leading a state military in the nation.
'We owe it all to them'
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott walked along with veterans and met those who served our country.
The mayor stopped by to talk with WJZ anchors Nicky Zizaza and Rick Ritter.
Scott said he has relatives, including a brother, who served in the military.
"We have to thank those folks who put their lives on the lines for us," Scott said. "All the freedoms and all the things we enjoy, we have to celebrate them. When you think about what they do, it's very personal. They are folks who put their lives at risk for all of us. We owe it all to them."
Gov. Wes Moore talks with WJZ anchors
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore walked in the Baltimore City Veterans Day Parade.
The governor took time to speak with WJZ anchors Nicky Zizaza and Rick Ritter.
"It takes a special person to raise their hand when the country asks, to leave their family, to go and deploy to a place where they know being in harm's way is literally the definition of what you are doing," Gov. Moore said.
Gov. Moore, a military veteran, greeted fellow veterans along the route.
"I look at it as a sense of pride," Moore said. "Everything I am, I know the Army helped forge it."
Rain won't stop the veterans
"if it ain't raining, you ain't training," WJZ's Alex Glaze on the veterans toughening out the rainy conditions of the Baltimore City Veterans Day Parade.
Veterans' cozy view
A stage is set up on E. Baltimore Street for military veterans to sit and be covering from the rain during the parade.
Look out for WJZ in the parade!
WJZ's dependable First Alert Weather Lab truck is lined up and ready for the parade.
During the stream, look out for live shots from the Weather Lab to get its point of view rolling through the parade.
WJZ’s “Weather Lab” live truck all lined up and ready for Baltimore’s Veterans Day Parade.
— Erik Lee (@erikleeWJZ) November 10, 2023
Parade kicks off at NOON and it will be LIVE on @wjz & streaming on
CBSN / CBS Baltimore / WJZ webpage. #HappyVeteransDay
*Thanks to all who’ve served* pic.twitter.com/7eHq2h7b7F
Road closures and parking restrictions in place
Streets Downtown will be closed to through traffic along the parade route starting at approximately 9 a.m. with detours and parking restrictions in effect.
Those attending the parade should arrive early and use public parking facilities in the surrounding areas.
All posted parking restrictions will be strictly enforced and vehicles parked in violation will be ticketed and towed.
Click here for a list of traffic modifications taking effect.