Veterans Day Parade 2021
NEW YORK, NY — NOVEMBER 12, 2021 The New York City Veterans Day Parade, the largest celebration of America's armed forces, returned along Fifth Avenue after the pandemic forced the cancellation of the celebration with spectators for the last two years.
The 102nd annual parade produced by the United War Veterans Council started at noon. It marked the 20th anniversary of 9/11, the 30th anniversary of Operation Desert Storm, and the Global War on Terror.
Every year, Manhattan's iconic Fifth Avenue becomes a central point of the city's efforts to salute the men and women who have defended our nation and its principles. The sole mission of the parade and its related activities is to honor America's veterans and spotlight those serving them.
Elite Air Force pararescue veteran Kevin Carrick served as the parade's grand marshal. Carrick is a retired senior master sergeant who served for over two decades as an elite pararescueman with the 106th Rescue Wing based in Westhampton, Long Island.
Carrick was among the elite but little-known specialists dedicated to saving lives. Pararescuemen respond to combat zones overseas and to disaster areas at home and abroad, including the first search-and-rescue military response at Ground Zero and support during the COVID pandemic.
With countless deployments to combat zones overseas and to disaster areas at home and abroad, ranging from the first search and rescue military response at Ground Zero on 9/11 to providing support during the COVID pandemic, Carrick represents the very best of the spirit of service that drives men and women in every branch of the military.
The parade saw almost 200 marching units, including veteran groups, service providers, military units, student veterans, and veteran employee groups. Marching bands, floats, and vintage vehicles added to the celebratory atmosphere.
"It is a day to remember and to honor, but it should be the first day of what then becomes 365 days of honoring veterans through real actions," Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a ceremony before the parade. "If anywhere in this city, if anywhere in this country, there is a homeless veteran, then we are not finished. We all have more to do. If anywhere there is a veteran suffering from a mental health challenge who is not getting the help he or she needs, we are not finished."
The parade saluted heroes like U.S. Marine Corps Desert Storm veteran and 2019 Emeritus Grand Marshall Eddie Ray and like Marine Corps Sergeant Mike Sulsona, who was wounded in Vietnam.
The parade proceeded up its traditional route on Fifth Avenue from 28th Street to 45th Street.
"These milestones represent critical moments in our nation's history when brave men and women made great sacrifices to defend our country," UWVC President and Executive Director Mark Otto said. "We know that New Yorkers are eager to show their support for all of our veterans and to welcome the Parade back to Fifth Avenue."
"We stand on the shoulders of the men and women who fought before us," United War Veterans Council Chairman Nick Angione said. "You can tell the war stories, but I stepped on a land mine and lost both of my legs," he said. "I came home."
This year's Grand Marshal was U.S. Air Force veteran and local hero Kevin Carrick, a retired Senior Master Sergeant who served over two decades as an elite Pararescueman ("PJ") with the 106th Rescue Wing based in nearby Westhampton on Long Island.
These elite but little-known specialists are the only Special Forces members dedicated to saving lives.
Army Col. Bill Taylor has served all over the world, including Iraq.
"It's important the nation and the city take time to remember the sacrifice of all of our veterans," he said. "I think it brings the country together, and we realize (it's) bigger than yourself."
He was recently transferred to New York from Tampa, which meant moving his son Noah.
"It's pretty hard moving every couple of years, but it's nice people take time to recognize the hardship of that," Noah Taylor said.
It also serves as a reminder that families serve too.
"We just couldn't be prouder of Bill, who represents our family and our nation," Taylor's wife said. "It's a delight to serve, truly, as an active duty Army officer."
Thousands of spectators once again lined Fifth Avenue in a display of unity in such divided times.
"I always say, when I got hit, and the choppers came and got me, they didn't say, 'Are you a Republican, are you a Democrat?'" Sulsona said. "We must work together for the betterment of the nation. We must."
Article by Joseph Ralph Fraia for Livein Magazine
@jrfstudio - jrfstudio.com
