NYC Veterans Day Parade Steps Off Wednesday at 12:30 on Fifth Avenue — Its 107th Year

Wednesday belongs to the veterans. The New York City Veterans Day Parade — the nation's largest Veterans Day event, produced by the United War Veterans Council — returns to Fifth Avenue on Wednesday, November 11, for its 107th year. The day opens at 10:55 a.m. in Madison Square Park, where the annual wreath-laying ceremony takes place at the Eternal Light Flagstaff, with wreaths presented by veteran representatives, public officials, foreign allies and senior military leaders. The parade itself steps off at 12:30 p.m. from Fifth Avenue at 26th Street and marches north — to East 48th Street, per the council's November 4 announcement.

This year's parade carries a double anniversary: it marks the 250th birthday of the United States of America, whose independence, the council notes, was secured and preserved by the service of its armed forces. Leading it are two Navy veterans: retired Navy Captain Sunita 'Suni' L. Williams, the NASA astronaut, serves as Grand Marshal, and Vicki Bello — a Navy veteran who manages community and veterans programs for the Theatre Development Fund — serves as Honorary Marshal. The line of march features participants from every service branch, thousands of veterans, military members, service organizations and youth cadets, with marching bands, floats, motorcycles and vintage vehicles; the parade may also be viewed live online on WABC.

The tradition is older than the avenue's parade route: first held in 1919 to commemorate the armistice that ended World War I — at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month — and produced by the UWVC every year since 1986. For New Yorkers planning Wednesday, the practical shape is the council's: Madison Square Park late morning for the wreath-laying, Fifth Avenue from 26th Street north from 12:30 p.m. for the march, and street closures along the route at the NYPD's discretion as the day approaches. Wednesday's own coverage will report the parade as it happens; this file is the plan, published in advance, from the organizers themselves.