American Valor Quarterly Issue 14 - Spring 2016 | Page 5

HONORING THEIR SACRIFICE

OUR PUBLIC EVENTS & AWARD-WINNING TELEVISION PROGRAMS

NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY PARADE
Now the largest Memorial Day event in the United States , the National Memorial Day Parade was inaugurated by the American Veterans Center & World War II Veterans Committee in 2005 . A tradition in towns and cities since just after the Civil War , the original Memorial Day parade in Washington , DC faded away during World War II .
The parade - which marches past the White House , the National Archives , and the Washington Monument before ending near the National World War II Memorial , is a moving timeline of American military history , calling attention to the true meaning of Memorial Day .
The National Memorial Day Parade is televised LIVE across the United States on cable & satellite , as well as to our military personnel serving around the world on American Forces Network . It features more than 4,000 participants , and draws crowds of well over a quarter of a million spectators annually .
The Grand Marshals of the 2015 National Memorial Day Parade were “ The Veterans of World War II .” Representing the 16 million who served - and more than 400,000 who died - nearly 100 surviving veterans rode down Constitution Avenue , welcomed by adoring crowds ( below ).
NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY
CHORAL FESTIVAL
Also on Memorial Day weekend , the AVC & WWIIVC hosted the National Memorial Day Choral Festival at the John F . Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington . Launched in 2008 to pair with the parade , the festival brought together hundreds of vocalists to perform with the U . S . Air Force orchestra in front of a full house of more than 2,500 .
A MAJOR LEAGUE SALUTE
TO WORLD WAR II VETS
On June 6 , 2015 - the 71st anniversary of D-Day - the World War II Veterans Committee joined Major League Baseball ’ s Washington Nationals in a special salute to the World War II generation . Dozens of veterans were welcomed , taking part in pre-game festivities and watching from a VIP luxury suite .
THE HONORS : A SALUTE TO AMERICAN HEROES
On November 7 , 2015 , the American Veterans Center hosted The Honors : A Salute to American Heroes , the first awards show on television saluting our military heroes from across the generations .
The Honors welcomed American heroes from World War II to the present day , including legends like astronaut Buzz Aldrin and Richard E . Cole , Jimmy Doolittle ’ s co-pilot on the Doolittle Raid ( pictured left with AVC Honorary Chairman General Richard Myers and AVC President James C . Roberts ).
Celebrities including Michael Douglas , Pat Sajak , Megyn Kelly , Kiefer Sutherland , Dean Cain , and more came together to tell the stories of America ’ s greatest heroes in an awards show built to honor those who deserve it most - our veterans . Ceremonies and musical performances , including the United States Army Chorus ( left ) made it a powerful evening , and fantastic television tribute to our military heroes .
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