Veterans Honored During 79th Annual Parade in Midtown  

Michael Meenan
NY1 News
November 11, 2007

On Sunday, the city's annual Veterans Day Parade saluted the men and women from the five boroughs who have worn the uniform of the nation's armed services. NY1's Michael Meenan filed the following report.

"Veterans Day, to me, means remembering those that came before me and remembering those that will be coming after me, because I'm in the middle – I'm a Vietnam veteran,” said Purple Heart recipient Jose Baez of the Bronx, describing what Veterans Day means to him.

Baez was among those at a Gracie Mansion breakfast on Sunday kicking off the city's annual salute to its veterans.

Those in attendance heard a pledge for the city to jump in with more housing and legal assistance for struggling veterans.

"I always thought it was the least we could for those who have served this country and have fallen on hard times,” said Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Before thousands of marchers headed up Fifth Avenue, Bloomberg reminded the crowd that since 2001, 70 New Yorkers serving in the military have fallen in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
Wreaths were laid in Madison Square Park, at the site of a monument built for World War I veterans, now commemorating all those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice to their nation.

The parade always begins at 11 a.m., on the eleventh day of the eleventh month – the exact hour World War I ended. On Sunday, those who have served since – from France to Vietnam to Iraq – joined high school bands and bagpipers along Fifth Avenue.

With many active duty personnel marching up the avenue, many of whom have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, there was one message many bystanders wanted to send out – and that was ‘thank you.’

A group of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans said its important the nation not turn its back on those who fight its wars.

"When they come home, they need adequate benefits at the VA,” said Paul Reickhoff of Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America. “They need mental health counseling. They need marital counseling. They need job programs and educational benefits."

The city has lined up attorneys who will offer free legal advice to veterans who need help processing their VA benefits.

The city also says its creating more housing for vets in danger of becoming homeless.
Any vet needing assistance can call 311.