THE 2015 NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY PARADE
On a bright, sunny yet refreshingly cool Memorial Day afternoon in Washington, DC, more than 350,000 spectators joined nearly 5,000 participants for the National Memorial Day Parade along Constitution Avenue.
As the nation’ s largest Memorial Day event passed the White House, the National Archives, and the Washington Monument, few could believe that just over a decade ago, the streets of Washington were nearly silent and empty on our military’ s most important holiday.
Though the tradition of parades on Memorial Day date back to the holiday’ s emergence in the years after the Civil War, Washington, DC- our nation’ s capital and headquarters of our military- was without a parade for nearly 70 years when the tradition faded away during the Second World War.
In 2004, the American Veterans Center & World War II Veterans Committee was asked to lead the effort to hold a parade in honor of World War II veterans in conjunction with the
dedication of the National World War II Memorial. The parade- held on the morning of Memorial Day- proved a success, and the following year the AVC brought back the tradition of a National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, DC.
Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2015, the National Memorial Day Parade is a moving timeline of American military history, featuring tributes to our military and fallen heroes from the American Revolution to the present day. The parade is joined by thousands of veterans, marching bands, historical reenactors, musical performers, and active duty military personnel.
Also joining the parade were a number of celebrity supporters of the military, including actor Gary Sinise( pictured left) participating in the parade annually since 2006.
The 2015 National Memorial Day Parade was televised live to our military personnel serving around the world on American Forces Network, as well as nationwide on cable and satellite on REELZ Channel and online at Military. com and DoD News.
This tremendous spectacle and tribute to our military men and women across the generations was made possible only through the support of private contributions from generous Americans across the country, including thousands of individual supporters of the American Veterans Center and the World War II Veterans Committee.
GRAND MARSHALS – THE VETERANS OF WORLD WAR II
Memorial Day 2015 and the summer that followed marked the 70th anniversary of one of the most important moments in history- the Allied victory in World War II. As such, all veterans of World War II were named Grand Marshals of the 2015 National Memorial Day Parade, with nearly 100 veterans of the war representing the 16 million Americans who served and 400,000 that made the ultimate sacrifice.
Veterans were driven down Constitution Avenue to thunderous applause, riding in classic cars from the World War II-era. They passed the National Archives, The White House, and the Washington Monument( left) before the parade’ s conclusion near the National World War II Memorial.
As Stanley Jaworski, a U. S. Navy veteran of World War II who came from Cleveland, Ohio to ride the parade told the Washington Post,“ It’ s a big day. I just couldn’ t wait for this day.”
The National Memorial Day Parade has become more than just a parade, but an educational experience that touches thousands of families. Martin Lourduswamy, a software engineer who emigrated from India, brought his two sons, 12-year-old Daniel and 9-year-old Joseph, to watch the event in person. He told the Post,“ I’ m leading this life because someone sacrificed for me. I’ m able to enjoy a lot of things here because people fought for a cause, for freedom.”
While the parade remembered the World War II generation, it also saluted generations of sacrifice throughout our history. One attendee, John Laski from New Jersey, served in Vietnam. As he told the Post,“‘ You know, the tears are always right here,’ gesturing at his face. He recalled( the post-Vietnam era) as‘ the parade that never was, the thanks that never seemed to come.’”
With the National Memorial Day Parade, that thanks for our Vietnam veterans, and all who have served honorably, has come- and will come- every year.
NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CHORAL FESTIVAL
On Sunday, May 24. thousands gathered at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as the American Veterans Center partnered with Music Celebrations International to present the National Memorial Day Choral Festival.
Launched in 2008 to pair with the National Memorial Day Parade, the festival features a concert bringing together hundreds of voices, performing with the Air Force band in front of nearly 2,500 spectators.
8 AMERICAN VALOR QUARTERLY