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NORTH AMERICA > United States > New york

New York Veterans Day Parade gives late tribute to Vietnam War Vets

November 11th, 2012 by Julia Reinhart
Julia Reinhart
New york, United States, North America
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New York Veterans Day Parade gives late tribute to Vietnam War Vets
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An NYPD Lieutenant salutes a veteran along the route of the New York City Veterans Day Parade.
New York Veterans Day Parade gives late tribute to Vietnam War Vets
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Members of the United States Marines march up Fifth Avenue during the New York City Veterans Day Parade.
New York Veterans Day Parade gives late tribute to Vietnam War Vets
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A NYPD officer thanks Iraq veteran Nevarez for his service along the route of the New York City Veterans Day Parade.
New York Veterans Day Parade gives late tribute to Vietnam War Vets
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A New Yorker signing a thank you note to veterans along the marching route of the New York City Veterans Day Parade.
New York Veterans Day Parade gives late tribute to Vietnam War Vets
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New Yorkers thanking their veterans along Fifth Avenue during the New York City Veterans Day Parade.
New York Veterans Day Parade gives late tribute to Vietnam War Vets
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Members of the United States Navy attending the opening ceremony of the New York City Veterans Day Parade.
New York Veterans Day Parade gives late tribute to Vietnam War Vets
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Members of the United States Coast Guard attending the opening ceremony of the New York City Veterans Day Parade.
New York Veterans Day Parade gives late tribute to Vietnam War Vets
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The United Armed Forces Trio performing at the opening ceremony of the New York City Veterans Day Parade.
New York Veterans Day Parade gives late tribute to Vietnam War Vets
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Koreans who had served the United States military during the Korean War attend the opening ceremony of the New York City Veterans Day Parade.
New York Veterans Day Parade gives late tribute to Vietnam War Vets
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Korean War veterans attending the opening ceremony of the New York City Veterans Day Parade.
New York Veterans Day Parade gives late tribute to Vietnam War Vets
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Members of the Navahoe Code Talkers, a unit of radio operators using the Navahoe language as an encryption code during the Pacific war during World War II attend the opening ceremony of the New York City Veterans Day Parade.
New York Veterans Day Parade gives late tribute to Vietnam War Vets
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Vietnam War veterans attend the opening ceremony of the New York City Veterans Day Parade.
New York Veterans Day Parade gives late tribute to Vietnam War Vets
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A mother holding up the Congressional Medal of Honor awarded to her fallen son at the opening ceremony of the New York City Veterans Day Parade.
New York Veterans Day Parade gives late tribute to Vietnam War Vets
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Members of the U.S. Coast Guard standing guard in front of wreaths to be laid during the opening ceremony of the New York City Veterans Day Parade.
New York Veterans Day Parade gives late tribute to Vietnam War Vets
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Veterans from the Korean and Vietnam Wars with a bald eagle during the opening ceremony of the New York City Veterans Day Parade.
New York Veterans Day Parade gives late tribute to Vietnam War Vets
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New York's senior U.S. Senator Charles Schumer attending the wreath laying ceremony of the New York City Veterans Day Parade.
New York Veterans Day Parade gives late tribute to Vietnam War Vets
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New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg attending the wreath laying ceremony of the New York City Veterans Day Parade.
New York Veterans Day Parade gives late tribute to Vietnam War Vets
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Members of the United States army carry a large U.S. Flag up Fifth Avenue past the Empire State Building during the New York City Veterans Day Parade.
New York Veterans Day Parade gives late tribute to Vietnam War Vets
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A veteran from the Korean War hugs a soldier who recently returned from serving in Iraq during the New York City Veterans Day Parade.
New York Veterans Day Parade gives late tribute to Vietnam War Vets
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Members of the United States Army parading up Fifth Avenue during the New York City Veterans Day Parade.
New York Veterans Day Parade gives late tribute to Vietnam War Vets
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Cheerleaders of the Ringold High School in Ringold, Georgia parade past the Empire State Building up Fifth Avenue during the New York City Veterans Day Parade.
New York Veterans Day Parade gives late tribute to Vietnam War Vets
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Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York sitting outside his St. Patrick's Church alongside Fifth Avenue, reviewing the Veterans Day Parade.
New York Veterans Day Parade gives late tribute to Vietnam War Vets
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Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York sitting outside his St. Patrick's Church alongside Fifth Avenue, reviewing the Veterans Day Parade.
New York Veterans Day Parade gives late tribute to Vietnam War Vets
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Veterans from the Iraq war hamming it up with at the New York City Veterans Day Parade.
New York Veterans Day Parade gives late tribute to Vietnam War Vets
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A Veteran from the Iraq war posing with a cheer leader at the New York City Veterans Day Parade.
  • New York Veterans Day Parade gives late tribute to Vietnam War Vets
  • New York Veterans Day Parade gives late tribute to Vietnam War Vets
  • New York Veterans Day Parade gives late tribute to Vietnam War Vets
  • New York Veterans Day Parade gives late tribute to Vietnam War Vets
  • New York Veterans Day Parade gives late tribute to Vietnam War Vets
  • New York Veterans Day Parade gives late tribute to Vietnam War Vets
  • New York Veterans Day Parade gives late tribute to Vietnam War Vets
  • New York Veterans Day Parade gives late tribute to Vietnam War Vets
  • New York Veterans Day Parade gives late tribute to Vietnam War Vets
  • New York Veterans Day Parade gives late tribute to Vietnam War Vets
  • New York Veterans Day Parade gives late tribute to Vietnam War Vets
  • New York Veterans Day Parade gives late tribute to Vietnam War Vets
  • New York Veterans Day Parade gives late tribute to Vietnam War Vets
  • New York Veterans Day Parade gives late tribute to Vietnam War Vets
  • New York Veterans Day Parade gives late tribute to Vietnam War Vets
  • New York Veterans Day Parade gives late tribute to Vietnam War Vets
  • New York Veterans Day Parade gives late tribute to Vietnam War Vets
  • New York Veterans Day Parade gives late tribute to Vietnam War Vets
  • New York Veterans Day Parade gives late tribute to Vietnam War Vets
  • New York Veterans Day Parade gives late tribute to Vietnam War Vets
  • New York Veterans Day Parade gives late tribute to Vietnam War Vets
  • New York Veterans Day Parade gives late tribute to Vietnam War Vets
  • New York Veterans Day Parade gives late tribute to Vietnam War Vets
  • New York Veterans Day Parade gives late tribute to Vietnam War Vets
  • New York Veterans Day Parade gives late tribute to Vietnam War Vets
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New York City Mayor Bloomberg and other dignitaries were on hand to celebrate Veterans Day with a wreath laying ceremony in Madison Square Park. New Yorkers lined 5th Avenue to thank their veterans from World War II to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

The 93rd New York City Veterans Day Parade started with an opening ceremony in Madison Square Park, honoring living veterans from all wars since World War II. The United States has a separate holiday, Memorial Day – on the last Monday in May – to honor the war dead. Originally called Armistice Day, to honor the end of World War I, it was renamed Veterans Day after World War II to give special tribute to those who served and came back.

This year’s theme was “United we stand”, in an effort to remin the public to stand behind America’s veterans. The U.S. Coast Guard and the Vietnam War Veterans received special commemoration during the opening ceremony, as the parade was intended to mark the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812, and to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War.

Those returning from the Vietnam War were often considered the step-children of war veterans. Contrary to their brethren from earlier wars, they returned from Vietnam to little fanfare and attention, since theirs was the first time, the U.S. army had lost a war. Their reintegration into civilian life proved very difficult, as many returned with emotional or addiction problems, making veteran homelessness a new phenomenon. In light of the 50th Anniversary of the beginning of hostilities in Vietnam, the veteran community gave special tribute to these soldiers, as one speaker said “to finally give them their rightful respect for their service.”

The Vietnam War veterans had their own float in the parade, reflecting the non-conformist nature of their generation. While veterans from World War II and Korea had marching bands as their musical accompaniment, the Vietnam War veterans had a rock band keeping them steady. However, in a conciliatory gesture to previous generations of veterans, their second float featured an elderly man singing “Yankee Doodle Dandy”.

All along the way, Veterans and onlookers could be seen thanking each other, exchanging salutes and hand-shakes.

Submitted by
Julia Reinhart
New york, United States, North America
+ More stories from Julia Reinhart
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