Parade marks big anniversary for Army, Marines and Navy
Published: 22 November 2025
By Theodore W. General
via the Brooklyn Reporter website
Doughboy-1024×683
Chris Watkins represented the Doughboy Foundation sounding Taps at the Eternal Light Flagstaff monument flagpole in Madison Square Park before the beginning of the 106th New York City Veterans Day Parade on Tuesday, Nov. 11.
The 106th New York City Veterans Day Parade took place Tuesday, Nov. 11 along Fifth Avenue from 25th to 45th Street, with the reviewing grandstand set at the beginning of the parade.
Veterans officials at the Eternal Light Flagstaff Memorial. Eagle Urban Media/photos by Ted General
It was the nation’s largest tribute to America veterans and it was one of the coldest marches in recent years. The combination of freezing temperatures and bone-chilling winds was something of a challenge as you marched up the avenue. I know some groups had color guards that had to hold on tight to their wind-swept flags.
NYC Veterans Services Commissioner Hendon at the podium.
This year’s parade heralded the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy, all founded in 1775. Grand marshals were Medal of Honor recipient and Army veteran Clinton Romesha, Marine Corps veteran Stephen Peck and Navy veteran Sunita Williams, also a former astronaut.
Columbia University’s float.
VIPs attend the memorial in Madison Square Park.
Each year the parade is hosted by the United War Veterans (UWC) of New York. Prior to the march, at 10:55 a.m., the UWC held its wreath-laying ceremony at the base of the Eternal Light Flagstaff monument flagpole in Madison Square Park. The NYPD ceremonial color guard presented the colors and a soldier in a World War I doughboy uniform played “Taps.”
Originally it was called the Armistice Day Parade, when the march commemorated the end of World War I in 1918. It was changed to Veterans Day on June 1, 1954.
⇒ Read the entire article on the Brooklyn Reporter website here:
External Web Site Notice: This page contains information directly presented from an external source. The terms and conditions of this page may not be the same as those of this website. Click here to read the full disclaimer notice for external web sites. Thank you.
