Veterans Advantage Helps Lead New York City Veterans Day Parade

Veterans Advantage Co-Founder Scott and Lin Higgins with fellow Vets and members on the NYC Veterans Day Parade route

Those who serve have a lot to be proud of. As Thanksgiving approaches, we have an opportunity to express our gratitude to them for their service and sacrifice. From President Obama’s proclamation naming November 2009 Military Family Month to Veterans Day parades across the country last week, this year is one of hope and promise. It’s also the 10th straight year Veterans Advantage participated in Veterans Day commemorations in New York City, this year helping to lead a parade that was said to have been viewed by more spectators in years.

	Veterans from all generations, Adults and Children lined the parade route up New York City’s famed Fifth Avenue

Veterans Advantage members joined staff and leadership on the Veterans Advantage “Respect, Recognition and Rewards” Float that wound its way up New York’s famed Fifth Avenue to cheers from patriotic Americans all along the parade route. New York City’s parade is billed as the nation’s largest.

 “It was heartwarming to hear thousands of Americans say ‘Thank You’,” said Veterans Advantage founder H. Scott Higgins, a Vietnam Veteran and co-founder of the New York City Vietnam Veterans “Welcome Home” parade in 1985. “Events like this one help each generation remember the importance of military service, and provide an opportunity for everyone to recognize and acknowledge those who serve and have served.

At the start of the parade, Higgins was joined by Buddy Bucha, Medal of Honor Recipient and Veterans Advantage board member, who gave an inspiring speech about the virtues of military service to parade organizers, fellow Veterans and Americans. Bucha in turn was joined by entertainer Tony Curtis, a fellow veteran and one of the parade’s grand marshalls, Senator Chuck Schumer and Vince McGowan, the President of the United War Veterans Council, who, together with Pat Gualitieri, did a superb job in organizing and hosting this 90th Veterans Day parade and celebration.

Fellow vets then climbed aboard the Veterans Advantage float, and off it went!

Veterans Advantage staff prepare the parade float on Veterans Day Morning

“I could have ‘floated’ up Fifth Avenue on tears shed, feeling the gratitude, acceptance and applause of the people on both side of the avenue,” said Jack Goldberg, co-founder of Magjak, a creative marketing company from Port Chester, NY. “We must find a way for Veterans to hear the voices of all those people expressing their gratitude to Veterans Services.”

Other local members were glad to see the extra efforts done to get the Veterans Advantage name out to the local community.
“Thank you for your service and for the wonderful things you are doing with Veterans Advantage,” said Sharon A. Armstrong. “I was so honored and humbled to have been invited to participate in NYC’s Veterans Day activities aboard the Veterans Advantage float…I have encouraged/recruited several of my Military buddies to join Veterans Advantage.”

“We had some laughs, too. Lots of reminiscing with old buddies. We also got a kick out of the Veterans Advantage members we met along the parade route. One followed our float, waving her card!” Higgins added.

New York City Mayor’s Office Kicks Off Special Honors
The day was kicked off with a special event at New York City’s Gracie Mansion, site for the annual Veterans Day breakfast, hosted by newly elected third term mayor Michael Bloomberg. Special words, and honor marked the start of the City’s 90th Veterans Day.

After a moment of silence for the victims of the Fort Hood massacre, Bloomberg thanked the crowd for their service, recognizing City Commissioner of Veterans Affairs Roger Newman and Commanding Officer of the newly commissioned USS New York, F. Curtis Jones.

"There's a total of some 240,000 veterans who live in our five boroughs, and I am determined to make sure we can do everything to get them and their careers and lives back on track and let them share in the great American dream that they so valiantly fought for," said the mayor.

A military group that had attended the Fort Hood memorial service on Tuesday also attended the breakfast. Major Lee R. Vartigian of the New York Army National Guard, a 42-year-old Afghanistan veteran escorted the group to the breakfast.

“All those in uniform today are given special treatment — with New Yorkers coming up to shake your hand, or buy you a coffee,” said Major Vartigian.

"Thank You" was the theme of the day

Some 20,000 moved up Fifth Avenue to cheering crowds. The marchers included thousands of active-duty military, civic and youth groups and the crew of the new USS New York, a Navy assault ship with a bow made from World Trade Center steel.