This year’s Bronx Veterans Day Parade in Throggs Neck is coming up on Sunday, November 13.
The 32nd Annual Bronx Veterans Day Parade in Throggs Neck starts at noon at Michael Menna Corner: Lafayette and East Tremont avenues.
It turns left onto Randall Avenue and then marches to Bicentennial Veterans Memorial Park where the ceremony will be held.
The parade committee chairman, Michael Rahilly, urged people to line up along the parade route with American flags to show their appreciation for the sacrifices America’s men and woman in uniform make for our country.
“Through their service and sacrifice, our freedoms and rights are protected and America continues to be a shining example of democracy,” stated Rahilly. “The parade offers our citizens an opportunity to thank them and honor them; you participation or support on the sidelines means more to our veterans than you will ever know.”
Lieutenant Colonel Ronald Watson, a retired U.S. Marine and a Throggs Neck resident will be honored during the parade as its grand marshal.
Watson was selected after nominations were made to the parade volunteers, stated Rahilly.
During his 22 years in the service, Watson had deployments during Operation Desert Storm, and he worked at the headquarters of the North Athletic Treaty Organization.
He is active in the Throggs Neck community as the president of the Manhem Club and with the American Legion.
Watson said he would like to increase community participation in the Bronx Veterans Day Parade and promote awareness of military and veterans’ affairs.
Another veteran who lives in Throggs Neck, Nicholas Calabrese, a 99-year-old U.S. Army veteran who served in World War II as a sergeant will be receiving the parade’s Lifetime Service Award, said Judy Lanci, a parade volunteer.
In addition, receiving posthumous honors as honorary grand marshals will be six deceased veterans: Marshall Siciliano; U.S. Army; William Hyland, U.S. Army; Frank Morales, U.S. Army; Irma Gallagher, U.S. Army; Joe Lemm, U.S. Air Force and Joseph Byrne, U.S. Marines.
“We continue to honor our veterans and their service and sacrifice,” stated Rahilly, adding that the parade continues to have new groups join it every year and that this year is no different.
The parade is a true community effort, he said, with both veterans and non-veterans volunteering on the planning committee, and community groups assisting them every step of the way.
Senator Jeff Klein, will host a breakfast for the veterans marching in the parade and honored veterans before the procession steps off.
At the event, Klein will present awards to several veterans who have serviced their community.
“Our ninth annual veterans breakfast will honor the great sacrifices our servicemen and women have made for our nation,” said Klein, adding that the people of the country owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to people who served in our military.
