VDP_Newspaper_29_PRINTREADY_2 10 2015 | Page 11

Longtime Parade Executive Director Patrick Gualtieri (1945 ~ 2015) “IF YOU HAVEN’T GOT PURPOSE, YOU’VE GOT NOTHING” The veterans community says farewell to a Parade icon O n July 21, 2015, New York City’s veterans community lost our longtime colleague and dear friend Patrick “Pat” Gualtieri. Pat was instrumental in bringing the United War Veterans Council and the NYC Veterans Day Parade (America’s Parade) to the level of prominence they currently enjoy. In doing so, he helped veterans everywhere have a greater public voice in New York City and across America. Born and raised in Brooklyn, Pat served in the U.S. Army from 1966-68, including a one-year tour in Vietnam during the Tet Offensive. He once described lying in the jungle watching as an American gunship, rained fire on North Vietnamese during Tet. “I had mixed feelings, happy to be alive, yet saddened that so many would die.” After a career in event production in Los Angeles, Pat returned to New York City in 2000 to help organize the struggling Veterans Day Parade. As executive director of the United War Veterans Council, producers of the parade, he helped build the annual event into America’s Parade, the largest celebration of service in the nation. The parade now includes more than 20,000 participants, with hundreds of thousands of spectators lining Fifth Avenue on November 11, a TV broadcast, and nationwide internet stream. “The veterans community mourns the loss of a giant, who devoted his life to honoring those who served,” said Vincent McGowan, founding president of the United War Veterans Council. “Pat’s boundless energy and unflagging good will helped drive our efforts to shape a world-class effort to honor service on November 11 and every day of the year.” Yet Pat’s legacy can also be felt on a smaller, intimate scale, in his thousands of individual interactions with veterans and civilians alike. To those who had served, he was an tireless advocate and loudspeaker for their issues and stories. For those who had never worn a uniform, he was an inspiring leader who welcomed and encouraged their efforts to give back to our veterans and military. We salute Pat, we remember him, and we honor him by building on the foundation he helped lay, this year and every year to come. NOVEMBER 11, 2015 11