10th Annual National Memorial Day Parade to Feature Celebrities and Veterans from Every Conflict

News provided by

Hayes Group

May 20, 2014, 07:55 ET


Washington, D.C. (PRWEB) May 20, 2014 -- The American Veterans Center (AVC), which represents all who’ve served our country, announced the participants for the 10th Annual National Memorial Day Parade, to be held along Constitution Avenue in Washington, D.C. on May 26th beginning at 2:00pm. The list of celebrities joining to honor our nation’s military this year include actor Gary Sinise, veteran and Dancing With the Stars winner, J.R. Martinez, Rita Cosby of Inside Edition, Grammy Award Winner Kristian Bush, and Miss America, Nina Davuluri.

Veterans from every conflict from World War II to Iraq and Afghanistan will be represented in this year’s parade. A co-pilot of the daring Doolittle Tokyo Raid from World War II, Lt. Col. Richard E. Cole, will be this year’s Grand Marshal. Lt. Col. Cole is 98 years old and is one of only four living participants in the raid. A bill to award the Doolittle Raiders with the Congressional Gold Medal—one of our nation’s highest awards for distinguished achievement—is expected to be signed by the President as early as this week.

“The National Memorial Day Parade celebrates the courage of all military heroes and gives us a chance to come together to remember those who gave their lives for our country’s freedom. This year, we’re honored to have heroes from World War II to recent conflicts, celebrities, and members of the public come together for what’s become one of the largest Memorial Day events in the country,” says James Roberts, President of the American Veterans Center (AVC).

The parade will also feature 30 high school bands from states across the U.S. including Texas, California, Maine and others. The parade will proceed along Constitution Avenue in Washington, D.C. on Memorial Day Monday beginning at 2:00pm at 7th Street and moving to 17th Street. Hundreds of uniformed troops from each service branch will march in the parade. They will gather for a special luncheon on the National Mall beforehand.

For more information on the 2014 National Memorial Day Parade, please visit: http://www.NationalMemorialDayParade.com. Some interviews with participants will be available upon prior arrangement.

Interviews will be available in days leading up to parade as well. Please contact mresnick(at)hayespr(dot)com 202-549-0807 to set up.

Parade Schedule Friday – Sunday

  • As Available - Interviews w/ organizers on parade set up and preparation
  • As Available - Interviews w/ Parade Grand Marshal Lt. Col. Dick Cole and celebrity participants

Parade Schedule Monday

  • Early morning - Live Shots available during parade set-up at reviewing stand
  • 8:00am – ongoing - Memory expert Ron White begins recalling and writing names and ranks of all 3,200 Afghanistan War casualties on 54-foot board: National Mall – Near 7th & Madison Streets
  • Morning – 1:00pm - Parade set-up & interviews availability: Reviewing Stand (7th & Constitution NW)
  • 12:30pm – 1:30pm - 600 active duty troops participating in parade will gather for lunch: National Mall – 7th & Madison Streets
  • 2:00pm - Parade begins: 7th & Constitution NW, and processes to 17th Street

Possible Interviews include:

  • American Veterans Center officials in DC/VA area - Friday through Sunday leading up to Memorial Day, or on Parade Day Monday morning at Reviewing Stand
  • Possible Celebrities and Participants at Reviewing Stand - Monday morning & throughout weekend as available
  • Lt. Col. Richard Cole – Grand Marshal and Surviving Doolittle Raider at Reviewing Stand (Monday morning or as available)
  • Ron White – Memory Expert who recalls and records all 3,200 casualties of war from war in Afghanistan (begins writing at 8:00am at 7th and Madison Streets)
  • Active Duty Service member Luncheon TBA

Optimum set-up spot for crews is adjacent reviewing stand at 7th and Constitution in designated media area. Please sign in at media desk first.

About the American Veterans Center: The American Veterans Center (AVC) is a 501(c) (3) non-profit educational foundation dedicated to preserving and promoting the legacy of our military personnel. The Memorial Day Parade is held annually in Washington, D.C. For more information, please visit http://www.americanveteranscenter.org.

Meredith Resnick, Hayes Group, http://www.hayespr.com, +1 202-549-0807, [email protected]