The Philadelphia Veterans Parade returns this Sunday, November 10, one day before America’s annual commemoration of military members who have served and sacrificed.
Organizers of the 10th annual Philadelphia Veterans Parade say it is a time to commemorate the service of all America’s veterans.
Many who served the country “wrote a check,” said Anthony Murphy, president of Philadelphia Veterans Parade Inc., which organized the parade. Some paid with their lives.
“Women, men, even those who worked to build the ships wrote the same check, and it was to guarantee freedom and the idea of freedom in this country,” Murphy said.
The parade is a time to remember that many have made personal sacrifices and put their country first, and now it’s time for us to give back to them.
“Many veterans are not getting the services they need and families are not getting the information they can use,” Murphy said.
Murphy says this is more than a parade. Community organizations are also part of the big day, providing services to veterans and their families.
Everyone is encouraged to attend.
“You can expect just about anything,” Murphy said. “We have a military band that will run everything, veterans of foreign wars, the American Legion, we also have Vietnam veterans.”
And This year’s Grand Marshal is Mr. Albert El, who we introduced you to in our Spreading the Love series. He enlisted in the Army at age 17 and served in the Air Force, Army and Army National Guard.
CBS Philadelphia
Overall, the parade organizers want everyone to remember that despite our differences, we are a united nation.
“This is why you should believe in America, the vision is that you would have one people,” Murphy said.
Philadelphia Veterans Day 2024 Parade Route, Road Closures
The route for the 10th annual Philadelphia Veterans Parade and Festival is different than in previous years.
The parade will be held on Sunday, November 10, 2024.
This year the route starts at 21st Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and ends at Eakins Oval. The festival takes place at the Oval from 12pm to 4pm
Hip-hop group The Sugarhill Gang will perform at the festival.
Admission to the festival is free and there will be a number of food trucks on site, including Brood Coffee, Deke’s BBQ, Farina Pasta and Noodle, Federal Donuts, The Little Sicilian, Grubaholics and Savor the Moment.
Drivers, you will not have access to the Parkway from at least 19th Street and further west during the event. The city has not yet released a full list of road closures for the parade, but we will update this post with more.
Wakisha Bailey
