NYC Veterans' Day Parade

My digital camera ^ | 11.11.2003 | NYC GOP Chick

[NYC GOP Chick]

For the first time in a long time, I made sure to be at the Veterans' Day Parade -- not that it was easy to find out the details. Nothing in the newspapers or on the news, but I did find it and met up with a few FReepers there: firebrand, Tabi Katz and Cacique. Maybe if it weren't so cold and dreary (and, toward the end, drizzly), more people would have shown up...

Anyway, I got there early and was walking around amongst the vets, but I soon left (and headed up to meet the other FReepers) because, frankly, I felt very much awed and humbled in their presence, and was starting to tear up more than a little bit. And I also feared that with the confusion and almost chaos, I'd wind up in a Forrest Gump-like moment and somehow manage to march with the Korean War Vets. ;)

But I am in total awe of these people. I've always appreciated and admired those who've served and protected us, but never more so than since the morning of 9/11/01. The one thought that comforted me in all the horror, sadness and confusion was that somebody was about to the Mother of All Ass-Kickings, after having pissed off the mightiest military this world has ever seen.

To all those who serve and have served, you have my unwavering support, admiration and respect -- not just for protecting and serving us, but for setting the standard for defending liberty and freedom throughout the world.

[NYC GOP Chick]

I wonder how these guys made it through the subway system with all that gear. ;)

[NYC GOP Chick]

[finnman69]

Did you get some pics of the blackhawk helicopter flybys? I watched them fly just over my building back and forth 7 or 8 times.

[NYC GOP Chick]

*ping*

[Only1choice____Freedom]

I wonder how these guys made it through the subway system with all that gear. ;)

I would give trained professionals with guns (loaded or otherwise) a very wide berth!

Thank you veterans for the freedom we still have.

[NYC GOP Chick]

Oh well, you always have the inevitable turds in every punch bowl...They kept chanting "NO MORE VIETNAMS!" and I was thinking "NO MORE 9/11S!" Yeesh...

I guess *someone* forgot about the "Don't Tell" part of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"...

[NYC GOP Chick]

I don't know if these are Blackhawks, but here you go!

[firebrand]

Too bad you guys didn't stay longer--LibertyLight showed up later. She has some good pictures, which we are going to try to post to this thread.

[NYC GOP Chick]

Not much from the Air Force, but here you go anyway. :)

Many high school marching bands came here from around the country -- including this group from Cullman, Alabama, and the poor girls were *so* cold in their little costumes!

[finnman69]

that's them!

[firebrand]

Where are the pictures of us?

[NYC GOP Chick]

As usual, Congresscritter Anthony (Is A) Weiner can't be happy just to show up and march in these parades. He was just about outdone by Giffie Miller, who wore a big, gaudy sash that looked as if he swiped it from a beauty pageant.

[NYC GOP Chick]

I wasn't thrilled with how they turned out. :(

[max_rpf]

I have some really cool shots of the choppers in front of the Empire St and some shots of the parade from above if you have a place to host them...

[NYC GOP Chick]

Do you have web space with your ISP?

[NYC GOP Chick]

Curtis Sliwa and the Guardian Angels seem to march in every parade -- at least every parade that matters. :)

[Donna Lee Nardo]

Thank you for expressing those Very nice and welcome sentiments. Ditto!

[Chummy]

In a small town in southeastern Wisconsin, on a drizzly November 11 morn, the muffled sound of a bagpipe cried mournfully from somewhere outside. Our meeting concluded, I noted my watch, 11 am.

Walking to my vehicle, I was fortunate this morning to happen across a small group of local veterans who assembled on a downtown street in that small town in Wisconsin, led by a piper in kilts, a color guard holding aloft Old Glory. Their caps spoke of other small towns nearby, Burlington, Elkhorn, East Troy, their caps now covering mostly white hair of men who, as boys, heard the call of our great nation and responded to that call, leaving their homes and families and small towns for other small places that became big places mostly because these were where our veterans shed their blood in fighting to preserve a freedom that each of us enjoys each and every day.

I paused a moment to thank them collectively, and to salute our flag, and to salute these brave and gallant men, men just like us, but oh so much bigger.

We can never begin to pay to our veterans all that our nation owes these men and women, but on this Veterans Day 2003, here's my thanks, my appreciation, my respect and admiration for each and every one who has donned the uniform of our military to give to us that most special and precious of gifts, our freedom.

We must never forget, not for one moment.

Thank you.

[NYC GOP Chick]

Sounds like a very touching, poignant parade you guys had there. Too bad that most people here greeted it with indifference. I can't tell you how many people came up to us before the parade to ask why the streets were barricaded. :(

God Bless our military and those who've given of themselves for the good of the rest of us.

[speedy]

Thanks for the pictures and the commentary. First class, as always. You're right about not hearing anything about this parade. I was over by the Plaza a little before noon and saw no indication of one. Not like the Gay Pride march when it comes to publicity.