NYC Veterans Day Parade 2024 draws thousands to Manhattan for tribute
NEW YORK — New York City's 105th annual Veterans Day Parade marched up Fifth Avenue in Manhattan on Monday.
Organizers with the United War Veterans Council said 20,000 participants from across the U.S, including nearly 300 marching and vehicle units, came for the celebration.
"A moment of reflection for all of us in uniform"
The parade started marching up Fifth Avenue from 25th Street. The Marine Corps was this year's featured service branch, but all members were honored.
"It's a moment of reflection for all of us in uniform and it's a great reminder of what the city of New York has done for veterans," Commander Stephen Snelson, with the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center, at the annual wreath-laying ceremony before the parade at the Eternal Light Memorial in Madison Square Park.
"As honorary marshal, I'm really representing for the women veterans. We're the largest growing community within the veteran population. So it's really important to see the service and sacrifice of women veterans throughout our history," said Captain Mercedes Elias, an honorary grand marshal.
"It's an honor and a privilege, a commitment that we do. But we owe it to our communities, our families for supporting us and guaranteeing our successes," said John Escalante, another honorary grand marshal.
This year's grand marshal was Dakota Meyer, a distinguished United States Marine who served in Afghanistan and was awarded the Medal of Honor.
There were also efforts to honor veterans on Long Island, which is home to more military veterans than most parts of the country, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
NJ Transit free rides for veterans
NJ Transit is saluting our nation's veterans today with free rides. All active duty and retired military personnel are invited to ride as guests on rail, bus or light rail lines.
Vets will have to show one of the following forms of ID to ride for free:
- A military ID card
- A Veterans Administration ID
- A membership card to any veterans organization, including American Legion and VFW
Free rides are also given to anyone wearing a U.S. military uniform.
What time did the NYC Veterans Day Parade start?
The parade stepped off at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 11, and was expected to wrap up around 3 p.m.
Although some rain was expected to move through the city overnight Sunday into Monday, it cleared up, setting the stage for a mild, breezy parade.
The annual wreath-laying ceremony took place in Madison Square Park just before 11 a.m.
NYC Veterans Day Parade route and street closures
The parade marched up Fifth Avenue from East 25th to East 45th Street, and dispersed in the area of East/West 45th Street between Sixth and Madison avenues.
Over 150 vehicles and 25 floats made their way through the mile-long parade route, along with marching bands, military units and veterans organizations.
The following streets were closed to traffic for the parade:
- Broadway between West 23rd Street and West 29th Street
- Broadway between 5th Avenue and East 23rd Street
- 5th Avenue between West 23rd Street and West 26th Street
- West 24th Street between 5th Avenue and 7th Avenue
- West 25th Street between 5th Avenue and 6th Avenue
- East/West 26th Street between Madison Avenue and 6th Avenue
- East/West 27th Street between Madison Avenue and 6th Avenue
- East/West 28th Street between Madison Avenue and 6th Avenue
Broadway was closed between Liberty Street and Battery Place for the Veterans Day Festival.
Additionally, the Madison Square Park Conservancy said the gravel and Broadway side entryways to the park closed starting at 6 a.m. Monday, and the Dog Run was closed from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Veterans Day parades around New York and New Jersey
Beyond the five boroughs, communities across the Tri-State Area honored the nation's veterans with parades and other ceremonies.
Here are just a few:
- Ocean County Veterans Day Parade in Toms River, New Jersey
- Veterans Day Parade and Ceremony in Burlington, New Jersey
- Veterans Memorial March to West Harrison Fire Department in West Harrison, New York
- Veterans Day March from Somers Middle School to Ivandell Cemetery in Somers, New York
- Veterans Day Parade and Ceremony in New Brunswick, New Jersey
- Motorcade of veterans with a police escort in the Crestwood section of Yonkers, New York
