American Valor Quarterly Issue 6 - Spring/Summer 2009 | Page 5

The parade stepped off at 2:00 PM along Constitution Avenue on Memorial Day, following the singing of the National
Anthem, the reading of the Pledge of Allegiance by Medal of
Honor recipients Col. Roger Donlon and Brian Thacker, and
remarks by Admiral Mullen (re-printed at bottom).
Serving as Grand Marshals of the 2009 National Memorial
Day Parade were “Today’s Heroes,” a contingent of decorated
service members who have fought in Operation Iraqi Freedom
and Operation Enduring Freedom. Among them were Major
Nicole Malachowski (right), a fighter pilot who is the first woman to fly with the Air Force’s “Thunderbirds” and Staff Sergeant
Jeremiah Workman, who was awarded the Navy Cross - second
only to the Medal of Honor - for heroism during the Second
Battle of Fallujah in 2004.
Joining them was Gary Sinise (pictured above), star of CSI:
New York and best known for his role as “Lt. Dan” in Forrest
Gump. Mr. Sinise has long been an advocate for our veterans
and military personnel, devoting countless hours to charity
causes to support those who serve. His band, the Lt. Dan
Band, has played for service members around the world
including on the front lines in Iraq.
Many other recognizable faces participated in the parade,
including U.S. Navy veteran and Hall of Fame pitcher Bob
Feller (left), who served as Honorary Marshal for WWII Veterans in the parade. Each era of military history, from World
War II through the Gulf War, was led by a distinguished
veteran of that era.

Pre-Parade Remarks by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff &
Parade Reviewing Officer, ADM Michael Mullen
Thank you, Jim (Roberts), and please extend my gratitude to the American Veterans
Center for leading this spectacular parade.
It is certainly exciting – and indeed rather humbling – to stand here today, across
from our National Archives, to pay tribute, along with each of you, to so many
of our daughters and mothers, fathers and sons. And to join with you in this
celebration throughout our capital city, itself a monument to millions who have
served this nation.
The troops and bands and families who will walk down Constitution Avenue
today are living testaments to ideals not merely placed on parchment, and guarded
by marble vaults, but protected in the service and sacrifice of generations past, ADM Michael Mullen (right) with American Veterans
generations present, and generations to come.
Center president James C. Roberts prior to his remarks
at the 2009 National Memorial Day Parade. Mullen, the

Right now, over 240,000 men and women of our Armed Forces are out there, on highest-ranking member of the United States military,
served as Reviewing Officer for this year’s parade.
point, standing watch, defending those ideals and our way of life, all across the
globe. And their families stand behind them, and serve every bit as much as they do.

We must never forget them, or the eternal sacrifices of our wounded, of the fallen, and of their families. Let us always remember
that they lived for us, and for days like these. How thankful we are, not just on Memorial Day, but every day, for their selfless
sacrifice. How thankful we are for their leadership and willingness to dedicate their lives to a cause greater than themselves.
On behalf of the more than two million men and women of our Armed Forces and their families, thank you for the honor to
serve. May God bless you all, and may God continue to bless the United States of America.