NYC Marks Veterans Day With 92nd Annual Parade

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Thousands in New York City are honoring the U.S. military and the U.S. Armed Services Special Forces on Veterans Day.

Over 20,000 participants marched in the 92nd Annual Veterans Day Parade alongside 3,000 active-duty servicemen and women.

Five Congressional Medal of Honor recipients, including Marine Corps veteran Dakota Meyer and 94-year-old Nicholas Oresko, the nation's oldest living honoree,  are marching in the parade.

1010 WINS' Steve Sandberg reports from the parade

"It's an honor to be here first off and then to see all these old troops walking and talk to them about their service, it's an honor," Master Sergeant Allen Chmielinski told CBS 2's Kathryn Brown.

"It means so much to me," Mjr. Dale Hanavan said. "It means so much to my soldiers. It's who we are."

WCBS 880's Sophia Hall Along 5th Avenue

Actor Cuba Gooding Jr., who is playing an airman in an upcoming movie, rode on a float with the Tuskegee Airmen along with actor Tom Selleck.

"I can't tell them enough, express enough my gratitude," Gooding Jr. told 1010 WINS' Steve Sandberg.

Vice President Joe Biden and his wife are also expected in the city. They are expected Friday evening at the unveiling of a 16-foot-tall bronze statue, which is getting a temporary home in lower Manhattan at One World Financial Center. Its permanent home will be at the World Trade Center site.

The theme of this year's celebration is "Never Forget" in a tribute to the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

There will be additional observance of the 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the Vietnam War and the 100th anniversary of Naval Aviation.

The parade kicked off on Fifth Ave at 23rd St at 11 a.m.

As far as bridges and road closures, a special event construction embargo is in effect for the parade until Friday night. For more information, click here.