Why Philadelphia's Veterans' Day Parade 2015 a Significant Event

Philadelphia is known as the birthplace of American freedom and the US Constitution; it played an instrumental role in the American Revolution as a meeting place for the Founding Fathers of the United States, who signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and the Constitution in 1787.

Thus, the city's Veterans Day Parade this year, held on Sunday November 8 is significant, but not for the above stated historical facts. It was its 1^st ever annual Veteran Day Parade, a historic first for the city.

The first annual Philadelphia Veterans Day Parade aired live Sunday afternoon on 6abc. [...] Participants said it was about time. "This should have been done years ago," said Robert Dager of Sellersville, Pa. "They have parades for everything else. This is more important than anything else: the veterans." - Read more at:

The news report above also quoted Media, Pa. Mayor Bob McMahon: "Philadelphia has not had a Veterans Day parade, really, ever," said Media, Pa. Mayor Bob McMahon. "So this is really exciting for us."

One opinion article published last year echoed the sentiments of many who believed that Philadelphia should have a parade to honor veterans, yet we have no city parade for Veterans Day, Memorial Day and for over a century we have not had a city parade to welcome the Philadelphia area troops home from war. We have parades and celebrations to honor a Little League team, the city’s unions, foul-mouthed rappers and pop stars.[...] All of these events that close streets, tax city resources and demand government attention, and nothing for the men and women who help make it all possible by standing in defense of America. - Read more at:

Some citizens said that while it was okay to hold such other events, it would not be asking too much to see that same effort to secure resources, sponsorship, and the like expended to properly honor those Philadelphians who went in harms way. It's a matter of priorities.

So how did Philadelphia get its first Veterans' Parade?

SHORTLY AFTER his appointment last year as director of the Veterans Advisory Commission, Scott C. Brown noticed something that was missing. Philadelphia had no veterans parade.[...]In his bones and in his job, Brown knew that was just wrong and nominated himself to raise the flag. First to salute was U.S. Rep. Bob Brady, the political heavyweight with the magic touch when it comes to All Things Philadelphia. - Read more at:

Thus, the Philadelphia Veterans Day parade took place during the day, (Sunday) long overdue and very welcome.

See here too for the Veterans Day events lined up for Wednesday, November 11, in Philadelphia.

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