NEW YORK, NY – The Marine Corps Commandant, General David H. Berger, will serve as Honorary Grand Marshal for the 100th annual New York City Veterans Day Parade November 11, joining five Grand Marshals who represent every generation of American warrior from World War II through current post 9/11 service, United War Veterans Council (UWVC) Chairman Douglas McGowan announced today.
The five Grand Marshals are:
Herschel “Woody” Williams, awarded the Medal of Honor for his service in the Marine Corps in World War II;
Hiroshi “Hershey” Miyamura awarded the Medal of Honor for his service in the U.S. Army in the Korean War;
Former U.S. Sen. Bob Kerrey awarded the Medal of Honor for his service with the U.S. Navy in the Vietnam War;
Eddie Ray, awarded the Navy Cross for his service with the Marine Corps in the Gulf War;
Zachary Iscol, a decorated Marine Corps Infantry Officer who served two tours in Iraq, fought in the second battle of Fallujah, and who has dedicated his life to serving his fellow veterans,
founding three unique organizations dedicated to serving distinct needs of our veterans.
The U.S. Marine Corps is the featured service for the Centennial Parade, the largest commemoration of service in the nation.
The Parade marches up Fifth Avenue on November 11, 2019. In addition to General Berger leading a contingent of Marines, the parade features Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard units, a total of nearly 300 marching units and over 25,000 participants from nearly 30 states, including veterans, service organizations, youth cadets and top high school marching bands. The parade will be broadcast on TV and online by WABC-TV, the nation’s most-watched television station.
“On November 11, we come together as one people to honor and thank our veterans, people like General David Berger who has served this nation for 28 years,” said McGowan, whose UWVC produces the New York City Veterans Day Parade. “We honor those who have sacrificed so much for us throughout history, people such as Woody Williams, Hershey Miyamura, Bob Kerrey, Eddie Roy and Zach Iscol. We are proud to highlight these five veterans as our Grand Marshals and the Commandant as our Honorary Grand Marshal, and the opportunity to thank all those who served in our military at this year’s Centennial Veterans Day Parade.”
General Berger, named Commandant in July, 2019, graduated from Tulane University and was commissioned in 1981. He commanded at every level – including a Reconnaissance Company; 3d Battalion, 8th Marines in Haiti during Operation SECURE TOMORROW; Regimental Combat Team 8 in Fallujah, Iraq during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.
As a General Officer, he commanded 1st Marine Division (Forward) in Afghanistan during Operation ENDURING FREEDOM; I Marine Expeditionary Force; U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific/Fleet Marine Forces Pacific; and Marine Corps Combat Development Command.
“Every Marine trains, prepares 24-7 to get the phone call in the middle of the night that your unit’s deploying,” Berger says in his birthday message to the Marine Corps, which is 244 years old November 10. “The phone call that you weren’t expecting, but you’re ready for. Marines win as a team. It’s a team sport. We get there. We fight. We sustain. Advance. And win, as a team.”
Just as “it’s not an easy task to launch out of the back of navy ship, and move towards land,” on this Centennial, it is fitting that New York City join with the Commandant as he resets the Marine Corps for the difficult years ahead. New York City’s long and proud history is tied to our harbor, rivers, and water ways, and on his 244th Marine Corp Birthday Message, the Commandant is clear that “the sea is where we will launch from, maneuver from, and recover to.”
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ABOUT THE NYC VETERANS DAY PARADE: The New York City Veterans Day Parade is our nation’s largest event honoring service. Produced by the United War Veterans Council (UWVC), the Parade provides the public with the opportunity to salute our veterans and military and raises awareness for organizations working to serve their needs. It is the centerpiece of an annual citywide effort to honor our veteran community. The Parade features veteran groups and service providers, military units, youth and civic groups, top high school bands from across America, vintage vehicles, floats and more. It is supported by numerous sponsoring partners, including UWVC Recycling, JP Morgan Chase & Co., Fiserve, Cushman & Wakefield, Wounded Warrior Project and A+E Networks/HISTORY. For more information, visit
uwvc.org/vetsday.
ABOUT THE UNITED WAR VETERANS COUNCIL: The United War Veterans Council, Inc. (UWVC) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that honors and serves veterans. The UWVC supports and promotes a wide range of initiatives that provide vital services to our veterans community (including health, wellness and education); raises positive awareness and increases public understanding of the needs of our veterans community through major public events and promotional activities; and brings together veterans groups, community organizations, government agencies, businesses of all sizes and the general public. For more information, visit uwvc.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
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From: United War Veterans Council
Contact: JohnAnthony DiMaria: (212) 843-9277 / jdimaria@rubenstein.com
Pat Smith: (212) 843-8026 / psmith@rubenstein.com