Nation's Parade, 5th Ave, NYC, 2005
Nation's Parade for the 60th Anniversary of the end of WWII
(Photos/words © urban75, Fri 11th Nov 2005)

The final event of the Department of Defense's official WWII 60th anniversary commemoration, the Nation's Parade runs up Fifth Avenue from 26th Street to 56th Street as part of Veterans Day Weekend.



The march dates back to November 11th, 1919, when General 'Black Jack' Pershing's comrades met at Madison Square Park to commemorate the one year anniversary of the WW1 Armistice.

In 2005, World War II veterans from around the nation were invited to represent their home states with this annual march through the heart of Manhattan accompanied by a sometimes curious mix of fellow paraders, including angry anti-war veterans, rambling Buddhists, marching bands and a, err, glamour queen.

The march attracted around 750,000 spectators with something like 25,000 participants from across America taking part, including a veritable flotilla of youth marching bands.



The Boardman Spartan Marching Band from Youngstown, Ohio strut down 5th Avenue.



Cop watching the parade go by.



Soldiers giving it some swirling action with their rifles.





Much flag waving going on, with the Chrysler Building in the background.



Drummers from the Boardman Spartan Marching Band.



Yet more of 'em!



We're not quite sure how an old police car emblazoned with adverts for 'Autorust technicians - to serve and repair' fits in with things.

Maybe the cop was thinking that too.



The mighty massed hordes of the Boardman Spartan Marching Band disappear up Fifth Avenue.

Claimed to bring 'better health and inner peace to millions,' Falun Dafa is a system of 'mind and body cultivation' introduced to the public by Li Hongzhi in 1992.

Also known as Falun Gong, the practice has been the focus of international controversy since the government of the People's Republic of China began suppressing Falun Gong in July, 1999, supposedly for 'illegal activities.'





I'm not sure what's going on in this boat-like trailer.



More Falun Dafa peeps and their yellow-clad mates below:











Right behind the calm and peaceful Falun Dafa were these rifle-toting, shiny-hatted military types from the Bronx Aerospace Academy - banner strapline, 'We believe we can fly!'





Marchers from the Bronx Vet Center, 'Keeping The Promise.'



Vets on the parade.